CM constituency gets bridge, LED lights and college
Chennai: In 2007, a Rs 16 crore bridge was approved in the congested neighbourhood of R.K. Nagar. For eight years, land acquisition and litigation proved to be stumbling blocks for the project. But green signal came the minute it became the ‘VIP constituency’ by electing the Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa. Now, the Meenambal bridge will be ready before the New Year.
Considered one of the most neglected constituencies of Chennai, R.K. Nagar is slowly transforming into a sought after residential area, as government departments are now racing against one another in improving infrastructure.
“By December, a new road overbridge constructed at a cost of Rs 16 crore, a new arts college proposed at a cost of Rs 8 crore and Rs 7 crore ITI centre will start functioning. A new tahsildar office and about 6,000 LED streetlights will be put to operation within two months”, a highly placed official source told DC.
“Power fluctuation has reduced in the constituency and we have installed a dozen new transformers”, said a local Tangedco engineer. The corporation councillors and former MLAs periodically inform us on cable faults and voltage fluctuations.
New cables have been replaced with suitable transformers under the regular maintenance works reducing the number of complaints by 20 to 30 per cent in all wards coming under R.K. Nagar, the engineer said.
“To improve garbage clearing, corporation is providing 12 additional sanitary workers and for adequate drinking supply, a Rs 16 crore drinking water project that was pending for the past two years has been completed”, an AIADMK councillor said adding the project directly benefits about one lakh residents coming under six wards.
“In a thanks giving gesture to voters, who gave a 1.5 lakh victory margin to Amma in the recent R.K. Nagar bypoll, our party functionaries are now frequenting revenue department to ensure a 100 per cent distribution of free mixies, grinders, fans and bicycles in the constituency, the councillor told DC during a tour of civic works completed in the area.
What R K Nagar got after electing Jayalalithaa
Arts college
Government Arts and Science College starts functioning from a temporary structure. Preliminary works for admission starts after administrative sanction of Rs 8 crore.
Industrial Training Institute
Permanent site for ITI finalised. The ITI, with the required infrastructure, would come up at 40, Arunachal Easwaran Koil Street in R.K. Nagar constituency at a cost of Rs 7 crore.
New tahsildar office
Earlier, residents had to go to Fort–Tondiarpet tahsildar office or visit the similar facility at Tiruvottiyur. A new tahsildar office, another long pending demand of residents, is nearing completion on Rettai Kuzhi street.
Two new sprawling parks and 6,000 LED streetlights
Fifteen grounds of Southern Railway land promoted as park by Chennai corporation. Similarly slum clearance board hands over 6 acre property to corporation for developing a new park at Bharat Nagar. 3,000 LED lights already installed; work underway for another 3,000 lights.
Pending projects for years
The Korukkupet railway overbridge was sanctioned in 2007 at a cost of Rs 16.66 crore. Now, the bridge work is completed and the facility awaits inaugural by next month. The bridge will connect Cochrane Basin road with Kathivakkam high road decongesting R.K. Nagar. For the last five years, MTC buses plying on this route have been suspended and after the bridge inaugural, services will resume.
Drinking water pipeline work
The pipeline restoration work that was pending for the past three years was completed last month. The Rs 16 crore project aims to reduce drinking water shortage and promises residents contamination-free drinking water network.
When DC interacted with residents they wanted Jaya to retain the seat so that bureaucracy does not affect the constituency. A few others admit that the constituency was only getting its long pending due since 1990s.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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