Chennai Smart City to decide on funds to build new Villivakkam tank

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Chennai Smart City Limited is expected to decide on the proposal of developing a new Villivakam tank by Greater Chennai Corporation at a cost of Rs 9.88 crore besides allocating additional funds worth Rs 9.11 crore for construction of “Command, Control and Disaster Response Centre/Smart Governance Centre inside Ripon building complex on its 31st board meeting scheduled to be held on Friday.

It is learnt that the two projects would be funded through the funds sanctioned for the unutilised  portion of Mambalam Canal project. Greater Chennai Corporation had proposed to construct Ground plus four green buildings inside Ripon building complex for the purpose of Command-and-Control Centre and also to accommodate offices for Chennai Smart City Limited, Safe city, ITS, Parking Management system, Public Bi-Cycle sharing system and various special projects.

Initially, a detailed project report (DPR) along with its cost estimate was approved by the High Powered Project Sanctioning Committee of Chennai smart City Limited in the year 2020 for Rs 47 crore. But now there has been an increase in the tender value of the project which is around Rs 57 crore. This has been due to rising cost of cement, steel and fuel cost . Apart from that there has been an increase in labour cost post-Covidf and an increase in GST from 12% to 18%. The due date for the work on the building to be completed is by the end of this month

Similarly to construct  a GRIHA 5 Star certified building, it would cost 15.1% more than what would be spent on the construction of a normal building. It is learnt the Revised Administrative sanction of Rs 57 crore is being placed before the Board for its consideration and approval.

The other subject in the agenda includes developing an additional water body by Greater Chennai Corporation in 8.5 acres of land near Villivakkam Tank at a cost of 9.88 crore. This is being done following a directive from the National Green Tribunal. The Villivakkam Tank of 27.50 acre which was existing as a shallow oxidation pond was developed into a deeper water body to an extent of 17.5 acres to increase the water holding capacity. The water holding capacity has been increased over 14 times more than the original oxidation pond capacity to 2,90,000 cubic metres. Due to the conversion of this oxidation pond as water body during the year 2021, the SIDCO Nagar area was relieved from inundation of rainwater.

Now Greater Chennai Corporation is to develop an additional water body with a capacity of 50,000 cubic metres. This won't have any structures for recreational activities except walking track and pedestrian lights on the bund. The additional pond will have a holding capacity of water whioch is much higher than the present lake capacity. It is being built to prevent flooding in the surrounding areas and increase the ground water level.