Chennai:
As the tar roads laid by the then DMK regime crumble following heavy downpour that lashed the city, the state government on Wednesday vowed to build concrete roads that would have longer life.
Addressing an event organized by Department of Planning, School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University and Institute of Town Planners India to mark the World Town Planning Day, Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraisamy said tar roads built by the previous regime will be replaced by concrete roads which will have longer life.
Currently, the focus will be to repair the roads, which would later be followed by laying concrete roads, Duraisamy said.
The mayor also rued the fact that planning laws are framed without the inclusion of the people. “People should be included when such laws are framed. This would create awareness among the people and improve the quality of life of people in Chennai,” he added.
He also said the plans by planning authorities are more theoretical in nature and is seldom implemented by the officials. Mooting the idea of developing gardens or parks on rooftops, the mayor also urged the planners to think out of box by coming up with ideas on how to utilize open space. Highlighting the need to end congestion in roads, he also suggested an example where vehicles are sold only to those people who have a parking space at home. This would solve the parking issue as well as to some extent the traffic problems, he said.
G Dattatri, former chief urban planner of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority spoke on the need for engagement of people in planning to make it sustainable. Abdul Razak Mohamed, professor and head department of planning, and ITPI Chennai chapter secretary R Shivakumar said the event is to create a platform for the town planning professionals, researchers and students to discuss about the role of communities and government in future of open spaces in cities.
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