Six bridges connecting the East Coast Road and the Rajiv Gandhi Salai will soon be designed according to the alignment of the proposed National Waterway 4, to ease congestion in the southern parts of the city.
The Greater Chennai Corporation will acquire land, rehabilitate residents and clear encroachments in the project area covering a 4.5-km length of the Buckingham Canal.
“We have initiated the process of public consultation. The response is good,” said a Corporation official. However, land acquisition and the removal of encroachments is expected to be challenging for the civic body.
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For example, the bridge proposed to be developed at the Venkatesapuram-Elango Nagar is estimated at ₹4.63 crore. The civic body would have to acquire land along a 1-km stretch and rehabilitate residents.
“We have to conduct a biometric survey of encroachers,” an official said. Some of the residents voiced concerns about widening of the narrow roads on either side of the Buckingham Canal after construction of a wider bridge.
According to a study, 5,266 motorcycles, 742 cars and 318 autorickshaws cross the existing narrow bridge every day. After construction of a wider bridge, the percentage of cars is expected to increase from 11% to over 30%.
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Similarly, the existing narrow bridge at Venkatesapuram-Gandhi Road is used by 4446 motorcycles, 243 autorickshaws and 620 cars every day. After the construction of a wider bridge in the area, more mini-buses and buses are expected to use the stretch. “Bus transport can be improved by widening the roads leading to the bridges,” said Raj Mohan, a resident.
Residents stressed on the need for public consultation in more neighbourhoods along the ECR and Rajiv Gandhi Salai to improve the proposal. Officials said land acquisition and rehabilitation cost for the bridge at Kamarajar Salai, Maniammai Street-Dr. Ambedkar Salai, Pandian Street-Anna Nagar and Gandhi Nagar-Pandian Nagar is expected to increase with a proposal to widen the area’s roads.
Many sharp curves in the narrow stretch will be straightened after the acquisition of land. The project does not require any forest land or eco-sensitive areas. The Corporation is yet to estimate the number of families which will be affected by the project.