The interim report of a study on T. Nagar redevelopment has made several recommendations to decongest the area, including bifurcation and relocation of the bus terminus.
A part of the facility should be relocated close to the existing bus stand in Saidapet, while the other should be set up near Valluvar Kottam.
About one lakh people visit the main streets of T.Nagar every day and 120 buses ply every hour and many critical junctions are choked. Mini buses that are energy-efficient and environment-friendly should be operated in T. Nagar, said the study by Jones Lang LaSalle and the Hong Kong-based Townland, consultants to the project.
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It also recommended pedestrianising parts of Usman Road, Ranganathan Street and Pondy Bazaar area.
The study, on which a presentation was made to officials of the Chennai Corporation and other agencies on Monday, said many parts of T. Nagar suffer severe air pollution. The Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter was 300 microgram cubic metre, against the permissible limit of 100.
Most of the main roads in the area have far exceeded their carrying capacity and take about 1.2 lakh Passenger Car Units in the east-west direction and 50,000 in the north-south direction.
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The report proposes a diagonal four-lane road to connect Doraiswamy Subway and G.N.Chetty Road. This connection will run deep below Panagal Park with a multi-level underground parking.
The consultants pointed out that commercial buildings in T. Nagar have not met the mandatory parking standards stipulated by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. Multilevel parking along select roads such as Venkatnarayana road and G.N. Chetty road are suggested. Areas below the flyover can be provided for hawking and stalls can be built for this purpose and regulated better, the consultants said.