GCC Council: The ₹200-Crore Pedestrian Push

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council has approved the second phase of a footpath construction project at six locations across the city, in line with the State government’s plan to develop 200 km of footpaths at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore.

The second phase will cover Sardar Patel Road, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Kamarajar Salai, New Avadi Road, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, and Paper Mills Road.

In addition, the council cleared several major infrastructure initiatives. These include the redevelopment of Sir Pitti Thyagaraya Hall at a cost of ₹1.86 crore and the construction of a new council hall and office complex within the Ripon Building campus at an estimated cost of ₹75.05 crore.

Approval was also granted for the construction of new school buildings at Portuguese Church Street (₹4.55 crore), Annai Sivakami Nagar 11th Street (₹3.93 crore), and Chellappa Street (₹4.58 crore). In the sports sector, the council sanctioned a ₹10-crore upgrade of the JJ Indoor Stadium and the construction of a new sports facility at Aspiran Garden at a cost of ₹4.80 crore.

The council approved additional infrastructure works at the Pulianthope slaughterhouse at a cost of ₹9.29 crore and cleared the procurement of six high-capacity suction-cum-jetting machines for ₹12 crore to strengthen civic services.

For recreational development, the council sanctioned the purchase of boats for facilities at Madhavaram Lake, Manali Lake, and near the Tiruvottiyur railway bridge. It also approved the lease of TANSI land on Walltax Road for ₹6.7 lakh to establish a temporary bus terminal.

Among other decisions, the council approved the renaming of Balakrishna Colony 3rd Street as T.V. Viswanathan Street and John Trevor Street as K. Veerasamy Street, and decided to name a new park in Ramapuram after freedom fighter S.S. Viswananthadas.

The council further resolved to install statues of Tamil martyrs Thalamuthu and Natarajan at the Chennai Schools complex in Egmore, and a statue of B.R. Ambedkar at the Victoria Hall premises.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.