The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is planning a grid of roads along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to develop it as a potential area to absorb the future growth of the city. The authority has already accorded permission for developmental work along the Mudichur and Palanthandalam villages.

The plan to have grid of roads along the ORR is being taken up as a pilot project after Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced in the Assembly that whenever new roads are planned or upgradation of roads were made, it should be done in such a way that the adjoining areas witnessed development and that a grid of roads are evolved.

Even the Second Master Plan has identified areas along ORR as potential areas to absorb the future growth. The ORR was evolved as part of the recommendations of First Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area to relieve the traffic congestion in the city by connecting the National Highway in Chennai Metropolitan Area. The 62.3-kilometre-long ORR connects NH 45 (GST Road) at Vandalur, NH 4 (GWT Road) at Nazarathpet, NH 205 (CTH Road) at Nemilicherry (Thiruninravur), NH 5 (GNT Road) at Nallur and TPP road at Minjur.

Sources said the area plans unit of the CMDA is currently receiving planning permission applications for large scale developments along the ORR.

Currently, action has been initiated to work out the grid of roads for the area adjoining ORR on the stretch between Vandalur and Palanthandalam.  CMDA sources said that the proposed road network suggested for Mudichur and Palanthandalam has already been approved during the authority meeting. CMDA sources said that the local bodies in the two villages have been given the sanction to accord planning permission for development projects in these two villages. “We have also identified several other villages that come under the first phase of ORR between Vandalur and Nemilicherry,” said a CMDA source.

Sources said that Detailed Development Plans (DDP) are also prepared under Section 27 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act and the maps prepared showed the ideal use of each piece of land in the area and guide infrastructure development by various department and agencies.

It is believed the DDP proposed by CMDA would focus on the grid of roads aimed at good connectivity to ORR, inter linkages and future requirements of physical and social infrastructure. The proposal also comes in the wake of development of a passenger-cum -freight railway line linking Ennore to Vandalur on the ORR stretch, which planners feel, would generate interest among the real estate developers. Besides the State government is also planning a satellite bus terminal in Vandalur.

Source-http://newindianexpress.com