Encroachments stall road expansion

A project to widen CSIR Road, which serves as a crucial link from Velachery and Taramani to the Rajiv Gandhi Salai (IT Corridor), has hit a roadblock with the Chennai Corporation finding it difficult to remove the encroachments in the way.
The widening project, at an estimated cost of Rs.2 crore, is expected to reduce the travel time for motorists from Velachery and Taramani to the IT Corridor and Thiruvanmiyur.
A number of leading IT firms and premier research institutions, including those of the Central government, are located on CSIR Road. The road also houses the Taramani bus terminus, one of the few such facilities in a radius of several km. CSIR Road also contributes immensely to decongesting the IT Corridor.
A Corporation official said the widening work has been stopped as those who have encroached upon the road have raised objection to the proposed demolition of their shops and houses. They have sought time to vacate the place. But the encroachments would be removed soon to facilitate completion of the work, he said.
On completion of the work on the 1.4-kilometre stretch, CSIR Road would be 60 feet wide with a 5-foot-wide stormwater drain network on either side and a median.