Major building projects proposed by the Chennai Corporation a few years ago are yet to get administrative sanction from the State government owing to challenges in funding the projects in the past few months. The key building projects proposed by the civic body include the convention centre in Pallikaranai and the office complex in Saidapet.
According to official sources, the civic body is unable to implement the building projects with its capital funds. “We are implementing only small projects that receive grants from the Central government. Other major projects have not received administrative sanction for more than nine months,” said an official.
The office building proposed in Saidapet would have a built up area of 5.6 lakh sq ft. As the building is estimated at ₹95 crore, the civic body is planning to develop it as a hub of banking services. “We may use 1 lakh sq ft for public services of the civic body. Most of the space in the 16-storied building will be used by banks,” said an official.
Similarly, the ₹85-crore convention centre covering an area of 4 lakh sq ft in Pallikaranai had not received the nod from the State government.
Most buildings to be constructed by the Chennai Corporation include the projects receiving grants from the Central government. The Chennai Corporation will construct 11 primary health centres throughout the city. “Bids will be finalised shortly,” said an official.
The civic body has started work on 22 public health centres so far. Work on nine urban primary health centres will begin next month in Malligapuram in ward 14, Vivekananda Nagar in ward 34, V.R. Nagar in ward 48, Sakthi Nagar Main Road, Porur in ward 153, Perumal Koil Street in Nerkundram in ward 145, Sholinganallur in ward 197 and Ramapuram, Bajanai Koil Street in ward 155. Each of the hospitals would be built at an estimated cost of ₹75 lakh, the officials added.
