First part of Chennai Circular Corridor set to take off

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) has decided to take up the Adyar River Front Project as the first part of the Rs. 2,300-crore Chennai Circular Corridor.

The financial services firm has decided to clean up the Adyar, use the Adyar Creek, and build a dedicated carriageway on both sides of the river for a Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) to reduce traffic congestion. From Ramapuram to Porur-Poonamallee, the BRTS would be on an elevated corridor that would connect with the Chennai bypass (Maduravoyal to Manali). The total stretch from the Adyar to Porur is approximately 11.5 km. The cost per km will be about Rs. 40 crore.

TNUIFSL has sought the State government’s permission to start the feasibility study.

After getting the green signal, it will complete the feasibility report in nine months and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in three months.

It will go through the competitive bidding route to select the international partners to prepare the DPR.

Smart card system


TNUIFSL managing director and chief executive officer Vikram Kapur told The Hindu: “We don’t want to kill the existing rivers. We are trying to revive them, create enough space and reclaim some area for the development of a park, promenade and carriageway. We also have two or three concepts like a multilayer carriageway for two and three wheelers, or dedicated lines for buses and multi-modal transport. The buses will be of international standards. We will use a smart card-based system.”

According to TNUIFSL officials, the feasibility report would be for the entire alignment and the DPR for the Adyar River Front Project.

The company had done a pre-feasibility study on this corridor and found that it was possible to have four to six carriageways. A final decision would be taken after choosing the international firm.

“We have also drawn up plans to rehabilitate those living in the corridor, so that displacement is minimal and livelihoods are not affected,” Mr. Kapur said.

If everything goes according to plan, commuters would have access to kiosks, solid waste dustbins, and row seating every 200 metres.