Municipality to develop green cover on highway

July 24, 2014

Soon, people travelling on Chennai-Bangalore Highway will enjoy better green cover on a portion of it.

The Poonamallee municipality has set the ball rolling for a project to develop a green belt along a four-km stretch.

As part of its efforts to beautify the stretch and prevent illegal dumping of waste on the roadside, the municipality has joined hands with corporates to survey the area.

Chennai:A core committee, comprising corporates and municipal officials, has been formed to chalk out an action plan to beautify the stretch between Doosan company and the BSNL office falling under the local body’s jurisdiction.

The beautification project will include developing the greenery and illumination along the roadsides.

Officials of the municipality said estimates are being prepared to develop a green belt. The number of encroachments is also being identified.

Municipal commissioner B.V. Surendra Sha said the local body has sought the assistance of industries in and around Poonamallee to take up the beautification of the stretch as a CSR initiative.

Residents of Seneerkuppam and Poonamallee want the local body to speed up the project as garbage is being dumped along the Cooum river and road margins.

“We are planning to use 10 metres of space on roadsides for the project and also rope in corporates to maintain the facilities,” he said.

The work will be completed in two months with the consent of the National Highways Authority of India. The municipality also plans to develop green cover in Poonamallee at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh.

Source: The Hindu

Traffic woes as city grows

July 17, 2014

Experts feel that a lot needs to be done for traffic management in Chennai, including better lane management and seamless transit between lanes. Photo: M. Vedhan
The Hindu Experts feel that a lot needs to be done for traffic management in Chennai, including better lane management and seamless transit between lanes. Photo: M. Vedhan
Though the traffic police have made arrangements to ease vehicle movement, residents of Anna Nagar, P.H. Road and Broadway, among others, feel the measures are inadequate

Travelling on certain arterial stretches in the city has become an ordeal especially during peak hours, thanks to the one-ways, traffic diversions and narrowing down of roads for ongoing Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) work.

During the rush hours in the morning and evening, the city’s traffic moves at snail’s pace. The honking of vehicles and the wail of ambulances that struggle to find a way through hordes of motorists, on some stretches, resonate for a long time.

Though the Chennai traffic police claim to have made arrangements, including one-way routes and traffic diversions, to ease vehicle movement, residents feel the measures are inadequate. “For travelling a few hundred meters, we take a detour of four kilometres. Every resident of Anna Nagar and Kilpauk has harrowing experiences,” said S. Arvind, a medical representative and resident of Anna Nagar.

V. Nagasundaram, secretary of Anna Nagar Welfare Association, says the locality lacks pedestrian crossing, traffic signals and traffic personnel at the main junctions. Shanthi Colony Main Road and Thirteenth Main Road present a classic example. “Crossing the roads is a nightmare, especially for senior citizens and children, because of one-ways,” he said. Moreover, the construction of a flyover near Thirumangalam junction has thrown traffic off gear.

The problem is not particular to Anna Nagar. Traffic policemen on Poonamallee High Road, too, complain that the problem gets aggravated during peak hours, especially near Chennai Central Railway station and Kilpauk Medical College. “There has been an increase in awareness to pave way for ambulances. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for the vehicles to get to the hospitals on time,” said a policeman.

Another location where traffic is chaotic is Broadway as the road has become narrow. “The presence of the market worsens the situation. It is becoming increasingly difficult to enter Madras High Court,” said V.S. Suresh, an advocate.

Traffic experts feel that a lot needs to be done for traffic management in Chennai. In Delhi, during the CMRL construction, though there were disruptions, an efficient traffic management plan helped ease congestion in some areas, said Rohit Baluja, president of Indian Road Traffic Education.

“In Chennai, they should have good lane management that would make transit between lanes well tapered and seamless. For instance, they could put the two- and three-wheelers in one lane and the four-wheelers in the other,” he said.

Establishing traffic engineering centres and training people is crucial to conducting surveys and providing better solutions for traffic congestion,he added.

Meanwhile, officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited said they intimate the traffic police about any change in their work one month in advance. “They then work out routes for diversions on the concerned road. In some areas, we employ more than two workers to control traffic,” an official said.

Source: The Hindu

Six-laning work of NH45 begins

July 15, 2014

Over 90,000 vehicles use the stretch connecting Tambaram and Tindivanam. Photo: M. Srinath
Over 90,000 vehicles use the stretch connecting Tambaram and Tindivanam.

Preparatory work has commenced for the six-laning of a 93-km stretch on the Chennai-Tiruchi highway (NH45) from Tambaram to Tindivanam.

According to sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the consultant has begun preparing the land plan schedule that identifies government and private lands. The consultant is also drawing up the estimate for shifting of utilities along the road that is used by over 90,000 vehicles a day.

The process including enumeration of trees along the road will take two years. “Since the concessionaire has a contract to build, operate and transfer the road for a period of 17.5 years, which is till November 2019, the NHAI will take a call as to when the work can be taken up,” explained an official. Work to widen the road into a four-lane facility began in May 2002 and was completed in October 2004 when tolling began.

A decision will also be taken regarding widening of the urban stretches upto Tambaram. “We have to take into consideration various factors including the Chennai Outer Ring Road that takes off from Vandalur, the railway track running on one side of the road and the densely populated urban stretch. Land acquisition will be a major issue in these areas,” he said.

R. Samban, who recently travelled by the NH45 to Tiruchi, said that the lighting could be improved on some stretches. “Some of the curves are quite sharp. During the widening, care must be taken to improve visibility at these points. The NHAI must also ensure that trees along the road are not cut but transplanted,” he said.

Sources:The Hindu

Now, ‘small bus’ service in Chennai

November 1, 2013

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa flagged off the service with a fleet of 50 small buses.

 Reuters

Chennai: Tamil Nadu has launched ‘small bus’ service to connect suburbs with railway stations and bus stands in the city. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa flagged off the service with a fleet of 50 small buses.

Passengers will find the 27-seater small bus or mini bus an alternative to share autos and vans. To begin with the services will cover places such as Chromepet, Guindy, Vadapalani and Moolakadai. Jayalalithaa also launched 610 new buses to be operated across the State. The Chief Minister said the State Government has earmarked Rs 1,026 crore to buy 6,000 new buses and half of them have been purchased.

To meet the increasing diesel cost, the State Government will allot Rs 500 crore this financial year to the Transport Department as against Rs 200 crore last year, she said. The Department is finding new ways to generate revenue. For instance, it earned Rs 28.13 crore from advertisements displayed in buses.

The parcel service in buses earned Rs 44.21 lakh and highway eateries earned Rs 4.67 crore. At the function, she gave pension benefits to 25 retired transport employees and sanctioned Rs 257 crore of pension benefits to other retired department employees.

The State Government plans to set up a second water plant at Gummidipoondi for the Amma Mineral water scheme. Under the scheme, which was launched last September, one litre water bottle is sold at Rs 10 to passengers travelling in long distances buses.

Source-http://news.in.msn.com

45-km elevated road on IT corridor to Mahabs

April 9, 2013

45-km elevated road on IT corridor to Mahabs

DC | 02nd Apr 2013

Chennai: The IT corridor, dotted with software companies, educational institutions and mushrooming swanky multi storeyed residential apartments, triggering more development by the day, has brought a new problem.Increasing traffic congestion is becoming a cause for concern to the government.In an effort to reduce the traffic congestion, the state government has proposed several road infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore, including a 45 km elevated expressway on the busy IT corridor to the popular tourist destination of Mahabalipuram. “The project will be taken up in two phases and the work will be completed from Taramani up to Siruseri in the first phase and from Siruseri to Mamallapuram in the second phase,” chief minister J. Jayalalithaa said. Making a suo moto statement in the Assembly on Monday, she said Rs 5 crore would be allocated to prepare a detailed plan to implement the project at the earliest.Ms Jayalalithaa said the 22-km road up to Thiruninravur from Padi was handed over to National Highways Autho­rity of India in 2005 based on the request of NHAI. But the authority did not upgrade the road since there was no provision for toll collection and as a result the road lacked maintenance, she said.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com

PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BOARD IS IN FINAL STAGES OF APPROVAL

April 7, 2008

THIRU BAALU ADDRESSES CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru T.R. Baalu has said that the proposal for setting up of the National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board, as recommended by the Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management, is in the final stages of approval. Similar Boards would be set up in the States also. Thiru Baalu was addressing the Seventeenth Meeting of the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament attached to his Ministry here today.

Thiru Baalu also informed the Members that the Department of Road Transport and Highways is also contemplating constitution of a Committee of Experts to suggest a comprehensive scheme to improve the public transport system. The proposed scheme would stipulate certain reform measures to be undertaken by the States to be eligible for seeking financial assistance from the Central Government.

The Minister further informed that a ‘Working Group’ has been constituted by the Government to determine the technology for Advanced Traffic Management System, Advanced Travel or Information System and Electronic Toll collection. He said that a System is proposed to be installed for automatic traffic counting and classification to have better assessment of traffic moving on National highways. He said that these steps are being taken as part of Government’s efforts to give more emphasis on the modernisation of the toll collection system for which introduction of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is proposed to be gradually introduced.

Thiru Baalu said that a proposal has recently been approved for creation of State and National Registers of driving licenses and registration certificates envisaging inter-linking of all Regional Transport Offices. This would enable creation of authentic database for road transport sector, ensuring transparency in the process of registration of motor vehicles and issuance of driving licenses at a total cost of Rs. 148 crore. The project period is two years. It would check issuance of fake driving licenses / registration certificates and lead to better enforcement of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act / Rules, he added.

The Minister also informed that to formulate a scheme for trauma care facilities across the country in general and along the National Highways in particular, his Ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to work out a -2- combined plan of action. For this purpose, Thiru Baalu informed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced a scheme for setting up of an integrated network of Trauma Centres along the GQ, North-South and East-West Corridors of the National Highways by upgrading the trauma care facilities in 140 identified State Government Hospitals at a total cost of Rs.732.75 crore during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period. Our Ministry has to supply 140 ambulances and NHAI has to provide 50 Ambulances with advanced life support equipment to identified hospitals.

Giving an account of the progress made on the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP), Thiru Baalu observed that upto February 2008, out of the 5,846 kms under the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) Project, 4/6 laning of about 5,650 kms has been completed and works are in progress in the remaining 196 kms length. Out of about 7,300 kms length under the North-South and East-West Corridors, 4/6 laning was completed in 1,962 kms and works were under implementation in about 4,359 kms. Under NHDP Phase-III, out of 12,109 kms length, 4-laning has been completed in 330 kms and works are in progress in about 1,745 kms and under NHDP Phase-V, out of 6,500 kms length, 6-laning was in progress in about 1,030 kms.

So far 86 projects valued at Rs.29,576.94 crore have been awarded on BOT (Toll) basis. Out of these, 34 projects have been completed and 52 projects are in progress. Also, so far 25 projects valued at Rs. 9,411.88 crore have been awarded on BOT (Annuity) basis; out of which, 8 projects have been completed and 17 projects are in progress, the Minister informed.

The Members of Parliament who participated in the meeting are: S/Shri M.R. Reddy, S. Ajaya Kumar, L.R. Patil, Hari Kewal Prasad, M.L. Mandal, Tiruchi Siva and Ms. Mabel Rebello.

Source: pib.nic.in

Four-laning of Hyderabad-Vijayawada road from December

April 7, 2008

VIJAYAWADA: The long-awaited Rs 1460 crore four-laning of Hyderabad-Vijayawada Road will commence in December. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will finalise the tenders by June.

Currently, the four-laning has been completed between Vijayawada and Nandigama (50 km) and Hyderabad and Malkapuram (40 km). The 181 km stretch between Malkapuram and Nandigama will now be four-laned.

NHAI Vijayawada-Hyderabad section project director P Srinivasa Rao said the work will be completed in two years time. The NHAI, the State Government and the contractors will enter into a state-support agreement before commencing the works, he added.

VIJAYAWADA-MACHILIPATNAM ROAD: Srinivasa Rao said the the Vijayawada-Machilipatnam Road will also be widened to 200 feet. This would be done for 150 km. The tenders would be finalised in June and the works would begin from December.

The widening is estimated to cost Rs 493 crore. The widening has become necessary in view of the heavy vehicular movement on the road and the future needs that may arise after the establishment of the new port.

The project director met superintendent engineer of Irrigation T Shivaji recently to discuss the widening as some irrigation canals pass along the road.

Source: newindpress.com

DR. KARUNANIDHI TO INAUGURATE FOUR NHAI PROJECTS IN CHENNAI

April 4, 2008

DR. KARUNANIDHI TO INAUGURATE FOUR NHAI PROJECTS IN CHENNAI. ALSO TO LAY FOUNDATION STONE FOR FOOT OVER BRIDGE AT CHROMEPET

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. Kalaignar M., Karunanidhi will inaugurate four projects completed at a total cost of Rs. 80 crore by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday the 9th April 2008. He will also lay the foundation stone for Foot-over Bridge at Chromepet on the same day.

The function for the inaugural ceremony would be presided over by the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru T. R. Baalu and the Minister for Local Administration, Government of Tamil Nadu Thiru M.K Stalin would be the Chief Guest. The Guests of honour of the function would be Thiru M.P. Swaminathan, Minister for Highways, Government of Tamil Nadu and Thiru T.M. Anbarasan, Minister for Labour, Government of Tamil Nadu.

The Irumbuliyur Underpass has been built at a cost of Rs. four crore, four-laning of Chennai Bypass Phase-I up to Porur has been completed by NHAI at a cost of Rs. 70 crore, the pedestrian subway at Tirisulam has cost Rs. five crore and the Bus Shelter at Chromepet built under the MPLAD Scheme has cost Rs. 82 lakhs. The completion of the Irumbuliyur Underpass will facilitate right turn for the Tambaram Traffic to access Chennai Bypass and thereby quicker connectivity to the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor.

The Chromepet Foot-over Bridge for which the foundation stone will be laid on Wednesday to facilitate the commuters in crossing NH-45 to access the railway station on the other side and vice versa which provides rail connectivity to southern part of Tamil Nadu, would cost Rs. 2.40 crore.

Thiru T.R. Baalu has expressed the hope that with the completion of these four projects, the people living in and around these areas would be greatly benefited.

Source: pib.nic.in

New bypass proposed for Mangalore city

April 3, 2008

MANGALORE March 18: The State Government has sent a proposal to the Union Government to construct a 91.2 km four-lane bypass from Mulki to Thokkottu via Kateel, Bajpe, Polali, B.C. Road, Panemangalore, Mudipu and Mangalore University.The proposed bypass is expected to not only provide better connectivity between Udupi and Bangalore but also to fuel the growth of the city outskirts as it may attract more Information Technology-based companies.This proposal is aimed at easing the traffic congestion on national highway 17 between Mulki and Thokkottu (near Mangalore) and national highway 48 between Mangalore and B.C. Road, sources told The Hindu.The project involves conversion of stretches of different State highways from Mulki to B. C. Road covering a distance of 58 km via Kinnigoli, Kateel, Bajpe, Kaikamba and Polali. The second stretch of 5.2 km length is from B.C. Road to Panemangalore on NH 48. The third stretch of 27 km is the major district road (MDR) between Panemangalore and Thokkottu via Mudipu and Mangalore University.The proposal, sent through the State Public Works Department, is before the Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, sources said.N. Gokulram, chairman, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Delhi, visited Mangalore on March 14 to assess the feasibility of this project and took stock of the four-lane work between Surathkal and B.C. Road.Mr. Gokulram held discussions with Deputy Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao, authorities of Mangalore City Corporation, Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (MESCOM) and NHAI.On the utility of the bypass, sources said that the area between Thokkottu and Mudipu on Thokkottu-Panemangalore road had emerged as education hub of Mangalore. Besides Mangalore University, one engineering college, three medical colleges and associated hospitals, two dental colleges have come up on this road. A prominent Information Technology company has opened its second unit in Mangalore near Mudipu. When this road becomes a four-lane stretch, more IT companies, colleges and industries are likely to set up their establishments in the region. This is likely to create more direct and indirect employment opportunities. The real estate business in this region is set to boom, probably making the purchase of property in the region unaffordable to common man, sources said.When the State highways such as number 70, 67 and 101 were developed, the area between B.C. Road and Mulki via Kaikamba, Bajpe could witness many developments. This road would pass by the airport as it would be within five km from the proposed new terminal building of the airport, the sources said.This road will serve as a ring road covering Mulki, Mangalore, Thokkottu, Panemangalore, B.C.Road, Polali and Bajpe.The Udupi-bound traffic from Bangalore will be able to divert at B.C. Road and reach Mulki via Bajpe and vice versa. Then, Mangalore city will have to bear with traffic plying between Kerala and Udupi, according to sources. Source:  http://mangalorean.com

GPIL announces IPO of 1.65 crore equity shares

March 7, 2008

CHENNAI: With an aim to fund some of its major projects in India, Gammon Infrastructure Projects Limited (GPIL) on Friday announced an initial public offering of 1.65 crore equity shares of par value Rs 10 each for a cash price to be determined through a 100 per cent book-building process (Issue). The price band has been fixed between Rs 167 and Rs 200 pewr equity share. Pervez Umrigar, Managing Director, GPIL, told reporters here today that the Issue’s proceeds would be utilised in the design, construction and maintenance of projects including the four-laning of the 99.5 km of Vadape-Gonde section between Mumbai and Nasik on NH-3, being developed and maintained by the special purpose vehicle (SPV), the Mumbai Nasik Expressway Limted (MNEL). ”We currently have 14 infrastructure projects, including the Vishakaptanam port project in Andhra Pradesh and Mattanchery bridge project in Kerala among others in the operation phase, with respective special purpose vehicles (SPVs) in place to develop and maintain them,” Umrigar said. The Rangit-II hydroelectric power project on River Nimbi in Sikkim, and the MNEL among others were in the development phase, he added. According to a company release, the Issue comprises a net issue of 1.49 crore equity shares to the public (Net Issue) and a reservation of 16.55 lakh equity shares for employees. While at least 60 percent of the Net Issue will be allocated on a proporationate basis to Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB), at least 10 percent of the same would be available for non-institutional bidders and 30 percent of the Net Issue for retail investors on proportionate basis. The issue opens on March 10 and closes on March 13, 2008. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

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