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Metro Rail's Phase 2 Looks To Connect Areas That Have Poor Road Connectivity
Julie Mariappan| TNN
In the relatively under-developed areas of Moolakadai, Poonamallee, Red Hills and Iyyappanthangal, the plan to integrate the north-western belt with the southern part through three additional Metro rail lines is being seen as a boon. There are sceptics too with some residents wondering if the plan will be feasible at all. The proposed rail lines, they say, will pass through highly-congested areas.
"The proposed rail link will be a blessing for this part of Chennai, which has been neglected all these years by the various government agencies. Public transport is inadequate and locals depend on share autos and maxi cabs which make a killing," says S Shanmugam of KKR Town in Moolakadai.
For long, poor road connectivity and inadequate bus services have forced thousands of residents in areas such as Moolakadai, Madhavaram, Mathur and Manali off the Grand Northern Trunk Road to rely mostly on private transport. They also depend on Basin Bridge or Perambur railway stations to move on to interior parts of the city.
Jawaharlal Nehru Salai or Inner Ring Road has become heavily congested and several intersections in the area, including Tirumangalam, experience traffic chaos all through the day. According to a recent government study, Tirumangalam tops the list of heavily-congested traffic junctions.
Many in the area are happy with the move to link their areas with the developed areas. "We are glad north Chennai is getting its due. The state has to ensure overall development of the city instead of concentrating development in a couple of neighbourhoods in south Chennai," says T Rajkumar of the North Chennai People's Rights Federation. "Moving to the Luz junction in south Chennai from Moolakadai in under an hour during peak hours is unthinkable," he adds.
With several areas being cut off from the main roads by railway tracks and the linking projects taken up by the state government and the railways going at a snail's pace, many residents say execution of the proposed Metro rail link will serve the purpose. The foundation for the Villivakkam subway project was laid in 2006 but it is yet to be realised. Flyover projects at Vysarpadi, Tirumangalam, Porur and Moolakadai are expected to take years to complete.
According to Prof T Sivanandan of IIT-Madras' Transportation Engineering Division, a network of Metro rails should be created. Development should not be confine to one or two corridors. "It has to be on the lines of road network to help the public get easy access. Or else, areas close to Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, EVR Salai and Anna Salai will alone benefit," he said. Public transport, according to the CMDA, accounts for just 29% of the city's population. The rest is taken care of by private modes of transport.
Meanwhile, the apprehensions over the feasibility of the project are growing. "Instead of pooling in more funds for the development of city, the government could have focussed on the development of suburbs. The proposed scheme will invite more migration to the city, furthering the chaos. In the absence of any deterrence against acquiring cars and twowheelers, the problem will continue to grow," says A Narayanan, social activist and resident of Virugambakkam.
Easing Commuter Woes
Ref : The Times of India : Chennai - January 8th, 2011