Key projects will be completed in north Chennai by year-end

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inspecting the construction of the ornamental fish trade centre under the Vada Chennai Valarchi  
Thittam on January 31.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Civic infrastructure in north Chennai will get a makeover as the work under Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam has gained momentum after the inspection by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Mr. Stalin inspected the work last week and ordered officials to expedite the projects. Minister for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) P.K. Sekarbabu has said the government intends to complete 80% of the projects by December this year. Among the projects are bus stands, public health facilities, libraries, water supply, trade centre, schools, playgrounds, houses for the poor, and skill development and employment for youth.

Madhavaram Zone Ward 30 councillor G. Duraisamy said the bus stand proposed to be constructed at Vinayagayapuram will facilitate better public transport connectivity in the area. “Residents have been campaigning for a modern bus stand for nine years. Many women and students depend on bus services in our area to reach the central business district areas. Bus transport from our zone to George Town and Koyambedu will improve in one year after the construction of the modern bus stand,” says Mr. Duraisamy.

Bus stand work starts

On Friday, the ‘bhoomi puja’ for the construction of the bus stand was held in the Madhavaram zone. “Construction is expected to begin shortly,” he says.

AIADMK leader in Ward 1 Kannan says the DMK government has not implemented important infrastructure projects for the Tiruvottiyur Zone, especially those meant for improving drinking water supply, creating a sewer network, and promoting tourism. “Our area near Ennore Creek is environmentally crucial for the city’s resilience. The government has not considered the challenging conditions faced by the poor residents of north Chennai. If the government is really concerned about the poor residents, it should have provided sewage and water supply connections at a concessional rate. The AIADMK government implemented underground sewage projects in our area. But the poor residents could not afford a connection because of the exorbitant charges, ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh. The residents need better services. Similarly, the pollution caused by industries should be controlled. We need tourism infrastructure, clean air, and safe drinking water in north Chennai. Once north Chennai is safe, the city’s resilience is strengthened,” he says.

‘Increase bus services’

K.P. Subramanian, urban transport expert and former professor of urban engineering at Anna University, says that besides the construction of the bus stands, the government should increase the bus services and improve roads and pedestrian infrastructure in north Chennai.

After the Corporation Council on Thursday passed a resolution clearing 36 projects under Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam, councillors of various wards have started monitoring the progress of the work. The projects like the expansion of the Madhavaram Bus Terminus on Madavaram Red Hills Road, which is estimated to cost ₹2.27 crore, are expected to improve connectivity.

In the Tondiarpet Zone, the development of a modern eco-park on Canal Street at an estimated cost of ₹6.24 crore will be completed before the onset of the northeast monsoon. Playgrounds are expected to be upgraded in areas including Barracks Road in Ward 55 of the Royapuram Zone and Anna Street in Ward 27 of the Madhavaram Zone. Wall Tax Road will get a modern gymnasium. Flood mitigation work will be implemented at 13 locations in the Tondiarpet Zone and 10 locations in the Royapuram Zone, according to officials.

“Projects, like the modernisation of the Ambattur bus stand at an estimated cost of ₹13.85 crore, are expected to improve public transport in the city. The R.K. Nagar bus depot, the first bus depot in Chennai, will be modernised by December. The Ambattur bus stand has a special place in history as it was inaugurated by Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. This is the first time that the CMDA is implementing such infrastructure projects in the history of Chennai’s urban growth and development. The Chief Minister is reviewing the progress,” according to Mr. Sekarbabu.

Government agencies have also started sharing the details of the projects on social media. The CMDA wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday: “The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, on (31.01.2025), inspected key infrastructure projects as part of the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam (VCVT). He reviewed the progress of the Kolathur ornamental fish trade center, being built on 3.93 acres in Villivakkam at Rs. 53.50 crore, and laid the foundation stone for a drinking water supply enhancement project in Kannikapuram, estimated at Rs. 59.15 crore. Additionally, the Chief Minister inspected the construction of 776 new tenements (stilt + 9 floors) on Stanley Medical College Road (Rs. 160 crore) and a sports field in Kannikapuram (Rs. 12.69 crore). He also visited and interacted with housing project beneficiaries. As part of the VCVT initiative, he further inspected the bus terminal under construction at Tondiarpet, R.K. Nagar, being developed at Rs. 21.95 crore to enhance public transport infrastructure in north Chennai. During the inspection, the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and CMDA Chairman, P.K. Sekarbabu, Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R. Priya, Members of the Legislative Assembly, Additional Chief Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Kakarla Usha, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran, Chief Executive Officer of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority A. Sivagnanam and other senior government officials were present.”

Lack of coordination

As several infrastructure projects in north Chennai have been delayed because of lack of coordination among government agencies, residents have demanded that the work be expedited before the onset of the northeast monsoon this year through a proper review of the progress every week.