In a bid to create facilities for pedestrians and design landscapes of greenery, the Chennai Corporation has decided to drop the proposal for a multi-level parking lot abutting Panagal Park in T. Nagar.
The multi-level parking lot was proposed to be constructed on Bashyam Road, perpendicular to the proposed 1,400-metre pedestrian plaza on Thyagaraya Road.
“Activists have voiced concerns about the multi-level parking lot’s impact on the park and the Rs. 83-crore pedestrian plaza. Work on identifying alternative space on T. Nagar roads will be completed shortly. Bids for the pedestrian plaza will be floated after identifying new parking spaces,” said an official.
New parking spaces are likely to be earmarked on roads near the pedestrian plaza that will emerge as a busy intersection of art and commerce. The pedestrian plaza will promote non-motorised transport, offering space for environment-friendly attractions, greenery and public utilities, including toilets.
The facility will be at least 22 metres wide, with two lanes carved out for public transport in a seven-metre-wide northern portion of Thyagaraya Road. The entire southern side will be reserved for pedestrians.
A few years ago, the Madras High Court had refused to interfere in the decision of the Chennai Corporation to build the multi-level parking lot, dismissing a public interest litigation petition.
The petitioner had said the entrance to the park would be blocked if the parking facility is allowed on Bashyam Road. Later, environmental activists suggested alternatives such as Prakasam Road for the parking lot.
After the World Bank started enforcing stringent norms to reduce adverse environment impact, the civic body has finally decided to explore other parking spaces to get partial funding for the project.
Of the three zones in the plaza, the zone between Bashyam Road and Thanikachalam Road junction will have the most attractions.
