GCC resumes work to relay 2,000 interior roads

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation has begun work to relay 2,000 interior roads across the city. All zonal officials have been asked to prepare estimates of interior roads that are damaged.
GCC sources said the 2,000 roads would be relaid at a cost of 1,100 crore.
J Radhakrishnan, GCC commissioner, said only interior roads would be covered under the project.
The GCC had relaid 4,500 interior roads and 250 bus route roads in 2020-2021. Again, before the council elections, 1,650 city roads that included bus route roads and interior roads, were relaid.
For this year, 400 bus route roads would be relaid for 45 crore, 300 interior roads for 29 crore and another 670 roads for 65 crore, an official said.
Activists, however, have questioned the move as under the Urban Roads Development Project, construction of 1,408 roads for a length of 221.88km had already been planned for 151 crore.
Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, stated that only roads that need to be relaid should be tendered. "No point relaying all the roads. Quality of the roads also matters. What is the basis of re-laying 2,000 more roads in the city," he asked. He, however stated, that the former commissioner, Gagandeep Singh Bedi had issued a circular that work orders should not be issued for those who quote more than 2% above the estimated rates. "This will be a deterrant to avoid malpractice however public needs ot be vigil and ensure only roads that require re-laying are laid," he said.
Raghukumar Choodamani, a civic activist from Perambur said alliance of residential welfare associations will submit a petition to the new corporation commissioner to ensure quality of roads.