Court case delays escalator bridge project in CHENNAI

The Chennai Corporation’s plans to construct foot overbridges with escalators are delayed due to a case pertaining to commercial hoardings pending before the Supreme Court.
The Corporation had announced that it would construct foot overbridges with escalators at three locations on Anna Salai (near SIET College, near Todd Hunter Nagar and near the Panagal Building) and one on Taluk Office Road in Saidapet.
Although a project developer has been identified through a tender process, there is a catch. The project developer was expected to generate funds for operation and maintenance of the escalators through advertisement revenue gained from hoardings on the bridge.
Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said the escalator bridge plan would only take off after the Supreme Court verdict in a case filed by hoarding owners associations in the State. The association had appealed against a Madras High Court order that upheld government rules on hoarding sizes and location.
The Corporation had invited bids for the project in July. Lakshaya Media, a private firm, had submitted the lowest bid. The bid has to be presented before the Council for approval and then sent to the State Government for clearance. The private firm would be required to employ a construction agency to build the escalator bridges and the work would be monitored by the Corporation.
At present, most foot overbridges receive little patronage from pedestrians. The steps are steep and beggars and anti-social elements occupy them. A woman trying to cross Haddows Road near Shastri Bhavan said she dare not take the overbridge as she once was almost attacked by two beggars.