GCC to Acquire Land, Build Slip Roads and Widen Streets to Ease Chennai Traffic

In a significant move to address traffic congestion, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has approved a plan to prepare a land plan schedule for road widening and the construction of slip roads across the city. The decision was passed during the Corporation Council meeting on Wednesday, following a petition submitted to Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin by Central Chennai MP Dayanidhi Maran

The civic body will acquire land in various areas to facilitate these works, including a key stretch of 357 metres in length and 5 metres in width from Queen Mary’s College to widen the MRTS Link Road. Slip roads will also be developed at congested junctions such as Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai.

As part of the broader infrastructure upgrade, the GCC will relay 803 interior roads across zones, including Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, and Adyar. The estimated cost for this road relaying project stands at ₹80 crore.

To fund this, the council has approved a loan of ₹80 crore from the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDCO). In its loan agreement, GCC has provided an undertaking that any revenue shortfall in expected property or professional tax collections will not delay loan repayments. In such cases, the Tamil Nadu government will be permitted to recover dues directly from the State Finance Commission (SFC) funds allocated to the Corporation.

Additionally, the Council passed another resolution to borrow ₹100 crore from the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Fund to upgrade major bus routes.

In a move toward making streets more friendly for pedestrians, the GCC will also build footpaths along important roads. These include Basin Bridge Road, Jeramiah Road, Vepery High Road, Narayana Guru Road, Choolai High Road, Anna Nagar Sixth Avenue, Velachery Main Road, and Dr. Besant Road, among others.

These actions aim to improve mobility and public infrastructure in Chennai. The goal is to reduce congestion in crowded areas and improve road safety for both commuters and pedestrians.