Chennai: In a move to decongest Chennai and to enhance traffic flow in the city 100 new mini bus, broad pavements, separate lanes for buses and two wheelers, battery cars will come up in Chennai, state minister for local administration S.P. Velumani and transport minister Vijaya Bhaskar informed the assembly while responding to the queries raised by the AIADMK and DMK MLAs.
In his reply speech, Velumani also said that modern toilets and clean drinking water would be set up at Pondy Bazaar in T Nagar. A six-storied vehicle parking complex will be set up at the junction of Thyagaraya Road and Thanigaachalam road in an area of 1,488 square metres, the minister said and added that about 200 four wheelers and 500 two-wheelers could be parked in the area. According to secretariat sources, the purchase of 100 new mini bus has already been sanctioned and is likely to introduce in the routes connecting Chennai and its suburbs.
Earlier in the day, T Nagar MLA B. Sathyanarayanan informed the Assembly that his constituency was suffering traffic snarls and congestion due to its commercial significance. He also demanded escalators near Duraisamy subway and Ranganathan street where public throng in large numbers. He also said that drinking water shortage was another major issue affecting the residents of T Nagar and demanded the construction of new overhead tanks in the area. The existing water supply is from overhead tanks in Ashok Nagar and it fails to meet the growing demand, he explained.
Similarly, DMK MLA P.N.P. Inbasekaran said that western districts like Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri were also facing drinking water shortage. To alleviate water shortage, the DMK brought into Hogenakkal Integrated water scheme, but much to the dismay this scheme is not providing adequate water to the residents, he added.
Responding to this, Minister S.P. Velumani said that the legislators should understand that the state is undergoing a severe unprecedented drought in its history of 140 years. Back to back two monsoons have failed by a deficit rainfall of more than 60 per cent. The new borewells are failing within a week and the state is taking numerous steps to tap all the available resources of ground water, he said.
