New town development areas:

Subsequent to the expansion of Chennai Metropolitan Area from 1,189 sqkm to 5,904 sqkm, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is in the process of preparing a proposal to notify potential growth centres,Kancheepuram, Minjur, Tiruvallur, Thirumahisai and chengalpet as New Town development areas.

The infrastructure and balanced growth in housing, commercial and industrial sectors, among others. Besides, the CMDA is also in the process of preparing sector-specific strategic plans for the satellite towns to develop them.

 

While the third master plan will be prepared for the existing 1,189 sqkm of Chennai Metropolitan Area, the CMDA will prepare a macro-level regional strategic plan for the remaining 4,715 sqkm that have been recently brought under its wings.

 

“Once the New Town development areas are notified, it will help us prepare separate master plans for Thirumazhisai, Chengalpet Minjur, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur . This will help in planned development of these localities,” said a CMDA official.

The CMDA is also looking at developing key sectors in each satellite town to boost employment and economic growth. . In Kancheepuram, they are looking at developing the silk weaving industry, agriculture processing sector and heritage goods. In Chengalper and Tiruvallur, it will be mostly be industries. In Thirumazhisai, CMDA will promote education and industry sector.

CMDA should set up offices in taluks. “Residents cannot go to the headquarters in Egmore every time. It can also hold workshops for residents.”

Four bridges in Kancheepuram district to be completed

These facilities are coming up across rivers, water channels and canals and will benefit over 24,000 people. During floods, piped causeways over these water courses get flooded, causing inconvenience to residents.

Officials including Kancheepuram District Rural Development Agency Project DIrector V. Jayakumar recently inspected the four sites and held discussions with engineers of the Highways Department, which is constructing the bridges.

The first bridge coming up near the Karur tank, is to be constructed over the Kuthiraival Madavu, and will replace a piped causeway that usually gets submerged during the monsoon. This high-level bridge is located 800 metres away from the Chennai-Bangalore Highway and will connect many panchayats such as Illupapattu, Karur, Marutham, Puthagaram, Naikkenkuppam, Singadivakkam, Athivakkam, and Thenneri in the Walajabad Panchayat Union.

With flood waters flowing at least 5 feet above the existing piped causeway at Arumbuliyur tank supply channel, the second proposed bridge here will permit residents of Pinayur, Kurumanjeri, Kaliyapettai, Sathancheri, Arumbuliyur and Thirumukkoodal villages to travel comfortably to the Chengalpattu district headquarters and Walajabad Panchayat union during the rains too.

The third bridge is coming up across an inlet channel of the Uthiramerur tank. Water from the Cheyyar River flows through this channel to reach the tank. During the monsoon, flood waters flows continuously from the Cheyyar River to the tank, which makes it difficult for people of Silampakkam, Karuvapampoondi and Alisoor Panchayats to reach Uthiramerur town. This bridge would also help farmers growing sugarcane paddy, groundnut, watermelon and vegetables.

The minor bridge coming up on Singilipadi Panchayat Union Road across the Kamban canal will allow residents of Singilipadi, Maduramangalam and Ekanapuram to cross the flood waters running from Andhra Pradesh towards Sriperumbudur during the rains. Around 7,000 persons are forced to take a detour since the waters run 3 feet above an existing piped causeway, explained an official.