Making Music Academy intersection pedestrian-safe is the next mission of the city corporation
A copy of the design (an artist's impression) showing dramatic changes to the topography of the area under the flyover in front of Music Academy and a portion of TTK Road. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: In a city where cars and bikes are considered important and given most of the road space, pedestrians have also begun to get their due space. Making Music Academy intersection pedestrian-safe is the next mission of the city corporation.
After seeing success in its projects in T. Nagar and Besant Nagar, CoC (corporation of Chennai) has now taken up Radhakrishnan Salai, the road (leading) to the state legislative Assembly from Poes Garden and Gopalapuram.
A project the corporation harped on for over three years has reached implementation stage. KSM Architects, a city-based firm which was engaged as the design consultant, has tabled its blueprint to CoC.
A copy of the design, which is available with Deccan Chronicle, shows dramatic changes to the topography of the area under the flyover in front of Music Academy and a portion of TTK Road and Radhakrishnan Salai leading to it. As per the design, the carriageway of a 20-metre stretch of TTK Road and 40 metre stretch of R.K. Salai (leading to the flyover in front of Music Academy) would be reduced and the space thus gained will be used to widen the footpath.
“We have proposed reduction of average width of the carriageway to 5.5 metres, as prescribed by the Indian Road Congress. Width of the footpath will be increased to 2.5 metres,” said Siddarth Money of KSM Architects, adding, “The road is as wide as 10 metres now. Seven metres is the width at the tightest point, so we can easily get enough space to widen the footpath. We were asked to include the nearest bus stop on R.K. Salai and TTK Road. Accordingly, the length of the stretch meant for redesign was determined.”
“Right now, pedestrians have to cross four lanes at one go. It will not happen once the project gets over as a new traffic island will be created under the flyover for pedestrians to wait while crossing,” explained Advait Jani of ITDP, knowledge partner of CoC in the project. Designers have proposed some landscaping to increase the aesthetic quotient of the area. Also, the inaccessible planting area under the flyover would make way for open plaza, where some art installations are being planned.
Conceding to traffic cops pressure, the designers have proposed to extend the carriageway under the flyover by creating a 1.5 metre buffer from the road and the flyover piers (pillars).
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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