Corporation rushes to complete public buildings

With the local body elections round the corner, the Greater Chennai Corporation is in a hurry to complete the construction of public buildings.

Many key projects, including the multi-level car parking lot on Nungambakkam High Road, are expected to take off shortly. As many as 33 public buildings are in the final stages of completion.

“We have issued work order for the multilevel car parking lot in Nungambakkam. Work will be completed in18 months,” said an official. Administrative sanction for the modern convention centre to be constructed on 15 acres of land in Pallikaranai is also expected shortly.

24 ward offices

The Greater Chennai Corporation is planning to complete work on seven hospitals, four crematoriums, four community halls, three schools and 13 ward offices. “We have already completed work on constructing 24 ward offices at Rs.26.62 crore. We will start work on at least five ward offices in areas such as Tiruvottiyur shortly. Residents have demanded ward offices in many added areas,” said an official. Construction of Corporation offices in some of the 200 wards was delayed owing to land dispute. Residents are unable to meet councillors and ward-level officials because of the absence of ward offices in those neighbourhoods.

Officials have asked contractors to speed up work on seven hospitals in areas such as Kannagi Nagar and Puzhal. Hundreds of residents at Kannagi Nagar are expected to benefit from the proposed 30-bed hospital.

Similarly, another 60-bed hospital in Puzhal is expected to attract many residents from the locality. After construction of the hospitals, secondary medical care is expected to improve in such added areas.

The key public building projects already completed in the past five years include Amma Maaligai at Rs.39.11 crore, hospitals at Rs.96 crore, schools at Rs.15.4 crore and an auditorium at Rs.18.05 crore.