Chennai: Two grandiose plans, the first announced by the DMK in 2008 (Chennai City Second Master Plan) and second by the ruling AIADMK government (Vision 2023), both aimed at the development of Tamil Nadu is nowhere close to fruition. Though the deadline for both the policies had crossed their half way mark, several ambitious projects and plans discussed in these two main policy notes still remain a non-starter exposing the administrative incompetence of the state.
According to former late chief minister Jayalalithaa's vision 2023 policy, ten cities should be converted into world-class cities by 2023. "Five years have passed and the projects are forgotten by the city administrators. And the reality is entire TN lacks solution for its waste management and is struggling to meet the growing drinking water needs. The Chennai Desalination plant proposed at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore and the hyped Rs 10,000 crore Restoration of Chennai Water Ways both are still a non-starter," disclosed a senior state official. Similarly, the Solid Waste Processing Facility for Chennai proposed at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore and an Integrated financial services centre (Financial City) at an estimate of another Rs 1,500 crore are still coming up, he mused.
According to Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority sources, the execution of second CMDA master plan is lagging behind on several parameters ranging from parking, public transport and traffic management. The master plan released in 2008 had a plan for next 20 years, but after nine years several recommendations are hanging in balance.
Back then, multi-storied parking lots were proposed in six places including Panagal park, Broadway Bus Stand, MUC ground, Government Estate Anna Salai, Adyar (Gandhi Nagar) bus terminal and T.Nagar bus terminal but till date the government has not completed any parking lot projects, the official said. The case of airports expansions and new port facilities in coastal districts are either shelved or progressing at snail pace.
