The Chennai Corporation will develop a common corridor for optic fibre cables along roads in the city at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore, said Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani in the Assembly on Monday.
During a debate on the demand for grants, Mr. Velumani pointed to several infrastructure projects in local bodies across the State and announced projects to improve connectivity, solid waste management, eco-restoration of waterbodies and water supply in Chennai.
“The Chennai Corporation will develop a common optic fibre cable corridor along roads under the public-private-partnership mode. Six cables will connect government offices, hospitals and ward offices,” said Mr. Velumani.
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The city-wide optic cable network corridor would be operated and maintained by the private sector for 25 years, improving communication security in all areas.
Smart City boost
The network is expected to make tariffs cheaper for residents, and improve the optic fibre network in more than 70% of areas. The common corridor is likely to facilitate Smart City Mission projects, improving the quality of civic services.
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Bicycle corridor
The Corporation will also develop a bicycle corridor along the Buckingham Canal from Kasturba Nagar MRTS station to Thiruvanmiyur at a cost of ₹20 crore. It will also start eco-restoration of the Mambalam Canal at an estimated cost of ₹80 crore. "The canal will get a floating garden and sewage treatment plants," said Mr. Velumani.
As many as 114 waterbodies in Chennai will be restored at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore, to supply 1 tmc ft of water to the city. "This includes the work on eco-restoration of the 25-acre Villivakkkam tank," said Mr. Velumani.
The Corporation will develop rainwater harvesting structures at 2,000 locations at an estimated cost of ₹12.52 crore. The civic body will develop 35 new parks and playgrounds at an estimated cost of ₹25 crore in various parts of the city. A total of 50,000 trees will be planted.
"Chennai Corporation has become the first corporation to implement 100% LED streetlights in the country. We will commission a remote streetlight monitoring system at an estimated cost of ₹46.2 crore," he said. The Corporation will also develop a 100-bed hospital in Shenoy Nagar at an estimated cost of ₹8.44 crore.
Biogas plant
The civic body will develop a biogas plant in Kodungaiyur dumpyard to process 50 tonnes of biodegradable waste. "Work on remediation of the Kodungaiyur dumpyard will be taken up," Mr.Velumani added.