Chennai Corporation working on Greenway pilot project from Royapuram to Foreshore Estate

C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Chennai Corporation is working on a proposed pilot greenway project for Marina Beach running from Royapuram in the North to Foreshore Estate in the south, Corporation officials said.
A greenway is a multi-use trail designed to provide a safe alternative to walk, jog, bike, or skate away from busy city streets. Many cities have successfully transformed urban spaces and provided alternative networks for walking and cycling.
The project, which is likely to be worth anyway between Rs 7 crore to Rs 10 crore, was initially suggested for 11 KM stretch by City Connect and Institute for Transportation and Development Policy but Corporation officials said that the stretch between Lighthouse and Slumboard also known as Marina Loop Road is not feasible for cycling. “The Right of Way availability would be an issue in this regard as such the 11km stretch is likely to be reduced,” said corporation officials. ITDP officials said the project would include landscape and waterscape projects.
Corporation officials also said that as per the initial recommendations it was originally planned to completely stop the traffic in the Wallajah Road, Sivananda Salai and part of Anna Salai stretch to make it pedestrian friendly besides building lanes for cyclists.
However, after discussion with traffic department officials, it was agreed for a one-way in these stretches.  “The project is still being worked out and nothing is finalized,” Chennai Corporation officials added.
ITDP sources told Express that Wallajah road is a VIP Zone, so it could still be a two-way but we will be designing it in such a way that it could be more pedestrian friendly. “We are planning to make it more pedestrian friendly. It will be a link from Metro Station to Marina Beach. Similarly in Sivanada Salai, it has more tar but less traffic. We are also planning to make it more of a uniform four-lane road,” the ITDP official said.
He said Sivananda Salai would be designed in such a way so that the Cooum which is likely to be cleaned and restored, can be accessed by the public. Interestingly, this part of projects budgeted by Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraiswamy,” he said.
It is believed a report, which has been submitted to the government, has recommended that the greenway include segregated cycle track connections to the MRTS stations along the corridor.
“It will provide a civic amenity of the highest order, not just for recreation, but for everyday commuting,” sources said.
The project would include a high quality and expanded pedestrian footpath, cycle tracks, trees, benches, wastebins, speed tables besides other public space amenities.
Interestingly, Chennai Corporation is also planning to have public cycle sharing systems that are popular in many countries and are a relatively new concept in India. Interestingly, several Indian cities have shown interest in setting up such systems. A pilot phase of India’s first fully automated cycle sharing system was recently launched in Bangalore, and additional systems are being planned in Bhopal, Gurgaon, Mysore, and Rajkot.
“We are also planning to have a cycle sharing system in this stretch,” he said and added that Chennai Corporation has already called for expression of interest (EoI) in this regard.