A roller skating rink being developed by the Alandur Municipality in Nanganallur is fast nearing completion.
Though the facility was “formally inaugurated” in February, ahead of the elections, a few works still remain, including fixing of tiles. It is likely to be thrown open to public by June-end.
A sum of Rs.31 lakh is being spent on creating the rink. While Rs.15 lakh was sanctioned from the constituency development fund of T.M. Anbarasan, Alandur MLA and Labour Minister, the rest is from educational cess collected by the municipality.
A. Duraivelu, Alandur Municipal Chairman, said children could use the rink free of cost.
N. Mahesan, municipal engineer, said the rink, located on a sprawling piece of land on 100 Feet Road opposite Civil Aviation Colony, measured 325 feet long and 30 feet wide, making it among the biggest of such facilities in Chennai.
The remaining works included fixing of tiles, building store rooms and other facilities. He said these would be completed by the end of June.
Nanganallur Roller Skaters Development Association had submitted a petition to Mr. Anbarasan sometime ago seeking government nod for creating the skating rink, according to its secretary B. Hariprasad.
The rink was the longest in Tamil Nadu, he said, adding that children aged above two-and-a-half years would be allowed to use it.
An office-bearer of the Kancheepuram District Roller Skating Association said the rink would give a fillip to the sport and encourage children to perform better. He pointed out that children from the southern suburbs of Chennai had consistently excelled in roller skating at State and national-level tournaments.
At present, about two dozen children from Nanganallur and areas around it were being trained by a coach on the space between Thillaiganga Nagar subway and GST Road opposite the Officers Training Academy in St. Thomas Mount.
