Coming, a 25-km wall along Adyar

Wall to be built along Adyar

Structure over a length of 24 km as part of ecorestoration project

The Chennai Corporation and other line agencies have planned to build a wall over a length of 24.67 km along the banks of the Adyar. Hundreds of encroachments along the river will be demolished for the ecorestoration project.

“We will float bids shortly. Work on at least 17 additional proposals, including parks, cycle tracks and walkways, will also be taken up,” said an official of the Corporation.

However, the development of the wall along the Adyar is expected to be the most challenging among the proposals made for the ₹555-crore project for the ecorestoration of the Adyar.

The Corporation will take up 18 proposals at ₹151.03 crore. “Removal of encroachments along the Adyar is expected to be a major challenge,” said an official. Residents in several flood-affected neighbourhoods such as Srinagar Colony in Saidapet have been stressing on the need for demolition of encroachments along the river to mitigate flooding for the past few years.

Most of the neighbourhoods such as Jafferkhanpet, Saidapet and Kotturpuram along the banks of the Adyar were affected during the 2015 floods.

Before development of a wall along the river by the Corporation, encroachments will be demolished. Other line agencies such as Metrowater, Public Works Department, Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust and local bodies will focus on other aspects of the ecorestoration project.

The Corporation will also develop cycle tracks along the river. Walkways will also be developed along the river. “People will be able to walk along the river. Transit facilities along the river will improve,” said an official.

For example, a walkway and cycle track will be developed along the right bank of the river from the Maraimalai Adigalar Bridge to Alandur Bridge at an estimated cost of ₹10.25 crore.

Similarly, another walkway on the left bank of the river from the MRTS Railway Bridge in Saidapet to Alandur Bridge will be developed at a cost of ₹2.02 crore. Another walkway and a cycle track will be developed on the right bank of the river from Jawaharlal Nehru Road to Mount Poonamallee Road at an estimated cost of ₹7.44 crore.

“We will take measures to offer cycle track connectivity from Adyar to Nandambakkam along the river,” said an official.

“The area will also have greenery. A proposal to improve greenery has also been made at ₹7.43 crore. Trees, shrubs, creepers, reeds, mangroves and grass will also improve aesthetics,” said an official.

The civic body will also beautify 12 bridges across the river at ₹2.23 crore. Parks will also be developed in areas such as Guindy Industrial Area on the right bank at a cost of ₹8.07 crore.

Other line agencies such as Metrowater will develop sewage treatment infrastructure to prevent pollution of the river. The Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust has already developed 358 acres of the first and second phase of the Adyar ecopark. Officials said the removal of solid waste along the 42 km of the river will also begin shortly. The Corporation will clear garbage along 16.90 km of the river. “Most of the garbage has been dumped from Kotturpuram to Meenambakkam,” said an official.

Work will be taken up in the CRZ area of 7.35 km from the river mouth to Maraimalai Adigalar Bridge without affecting the endemic species of fauna or flora, officials said.