The civic body, on Saturday, began removing encroachments from Paper Mills Road, one of the busiest stretches in north Chennai.
Narrow stretches of the road were widened from 30 feet to 80 feet after officials of the Chennai Corporation removed more than 150 major encroachments along the 4-km stretch, connecting neighbourhoods of Kolathur, Periyar Nagar and Sembium with central Chennai.
The action follows an order of the Madras High Court directing the Chennai Corporation to take necessary steps to widen Paper Mills Road in Perambur.
The Court had also directed the civic body to remove encroachments along the road with the help of the police.
Officials of the revenue department conducted a survey of the encroachments and facilitated their removal by the Corporation. Owing to the absence of police personnel on Saturday, officials were unable to clear the encroachments fast enough. Property owners on the stretch continued to object to removal of portions of encroachments from Perambur Church to Retteri junction.
A resident had moved the Court after the authorities concerned were unable to remove encroachments over the past few years. The widening of the road is expected to improve access to railway stations such as Perambur, Villivakam and Perambur Loco Works.
Last year, the civic body planned to widen 40 roads, including Paper Mills Road, Sardar Patel Road, Santhome High Road and Nelson Manickam Road.
The removal of encroachments and widening of Paper Mills Road is considered a key decision after the construction of a large flyover in Perambur.
Madhavaram High Road and Paper Mills Road are the two arterial roads that serve as link roads for all vehicles passing through Perambur. Madhavaram High Road too is narrow because of encroachments and unregulated commercial activity.
