Grid of roads planned along ORR to absorb future growth of Chennai

C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is planning a grid of roads along Outer ring road to develop it as a potential area to absorb the future growth of the city and the authority has already accorded permission for developments along the Mudichur and Palanthandalam villages.

The plan to have grid of roads along the Outer Ring Road is being taken as a pilot project after chief minister announced in the assembly that whenever new roads or upgradation of roads are made, it should be done in such a way that the adjoining areas get developed and a grid of roads are evolved.

Interestingly, even the Second Master Plan has identified areas along ORR as potential areas to absorb the future growth. The Outer Ring Road 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 km long outer ring road 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 that the area plans unit of Chennai Metropolitan development authority is currently receiving planning permission applications for large-scale developments along the Outer Ring Road.

Sources said that currently action has been initiated to work out the grid of roads for the area adjoining ORR in 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 to the development projects in these two villages. “We have also identified several other villages that comes under the first phase of Outer Ring Road between Vandalur to Nemilicherry,” said a CMDA source.

Sources said that DDPs are also prepared under Section 27 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act and the maps prepared show 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 aiming at good connectivity to outer ring road, inter linkages and future requirements of physical and social infrastructure.



Interestingly, the proposal also comes in the wake of development of a passenger cum freight railway line linking Ennore to Vandalur in ORR stretch, which planners feel would generate interest among the real estate developers. Besides the state government is also planning to build inter-city satellite bus terminal in Vandalur to cater to the needs of south-bound buses.

Factfile:
First Phase
Vandalur to Nemilichery 
Distance - 30 KMs
Cost - Rs.1081 Crores
Work is in progress and expected to be completed by December 2013.

Second Phase
Nemilichery to Minjur
Distance - 30.5 kms.
Estimate project cost - Rs.985.54 Crores
80% of land acquisition completed.
Concession period 30 years.
Contract period 30 months