The Tiruchi Corporation has set in motion the process of identifying suitable sites for construction of pedestrian foot overbridges at some of the important road junctions in the city with Mayor A.Jaya inspecting the proposed sites on Thursday.
Construction of pedestrian foot over bridges (FOB) at various junctions has been a felt need of residents in the city. The Corporation has been toying with the idea for the last few years but the proposals failed to take off.
Last year, P.Kumar, MP, had sanctioned Rs.15 lakhs for the construction of a FOB near the Anna Statue at Chinthamani and Rs.5 lakh for another FOB near the Head Post Office. Still, the project did not take off.
On Thursday, Ms.Jaya accompanied by senior corporation engineers inspected the proposed sites for construction of FOBs in front of the Railway Junction, the Central Bus Stand, Melapudur and near Mainguard Gate. Corporation officials said the local MP and MLAs were willing to sanction funds from their local area development funds and any additional expenditure would be met from the general fund of the Corporation.
The Archaeological Survey of India, which is maintaining the Mainguard Gate, has already objected to the construction of any such structure close to the heritage monument. It remains to be seen whether the Corporation could identify a site away from the monument for the construction of the FOB.
The Mayor also inspected the Corporation grounds at Anna Nagar where a Science Park is planned to be established.
This again, has been long pending proposal. But Corporation officials said a proposal at an estimated of Rs.2.50 crore has been drawn up for the project and the Directorate of Town and Country Planning was willing to extend financial assistance.
Ms.Jaya instructed the Corporation officials to build a retaining wall along the Uyyakondan canal near the Language Martyrs memorial at Anna Nagar to prevent accidents.
S.Raja Mohamed, City Engineer, R.Chandran and S.Arunachalam, Executive Engineers, and other officials were present.
