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Under pressure Gammon India executed big project

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The New Indian Express 29.07.2009

Under pressure Gammon India executed big project


CHENNAI: Gammon India, the civil engineering construction company that is facing a threat of being blacklisted by the Centre in the wake of the Delhi Metro rail mishap that claimed six lives, has built several flyovers in Chennai and is the contractor for the one still under construction at Cenatoph Road.

The country’s first Fast Breeder Nuclear reactor that is coming up in Kalpakkam is also being built by Gammon, which also did the pipe-laying work for the Chennai Water Supply scheme.

This clear water transmission line project involves laying of steel pipes for 94 km from Ongur River to Vandalur and pipes of a different diameter between Vandalur and Porur covering 20 km.

Of the nine flyovers that were built during the tenure of Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin when he was Chennai Mayor between 1996-2001, Gammon was entrusted with at least six projects. These were built over the Peters Road-Conran Smith junction and Peters Road-West Cott Road junction in Royepettah, Radhakrishnan Road-Royepettah High Road, and Purasaiwakkam High Road-Sri Narayanaguru Road in Purasaiwakkam, Pantheon Road-Casa Major Road junction in Egmore and TTK Road-Radhakrishnan Road intersection.

Among the second batch of flyovers that were completed recently, Gammon had undertaken the work on the Kodambakkam High Road and Mahalingapuram Road junction, the one at North Usman Road and the one stretching up to T Nagar Bus Stand from G N Chetty Road.

 

Soon, foot-over-bridge with lifts near Saidapet court

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Times of India 27.07.2009

Soon, foot-over-bridge with lifts near Saidapet court

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation will soon build a foot-over-bridge (FOB) with lifts on two sides in front of the Saidapet court complex on Anna Salai.

According to official sources, the civic body has already called for tenders for the FOB and lifts. While the FOB is estimated to cost Rs 34 lakh, the lifts are expected to cost Rs 21 lakh each.

"We have been hold discussions to see whether we should provide escalators or lifts to the FOB. In all probability, we will instal lifts since escalators will occupy a lot more space on the road. Each lift will be able to carry 15 persons at a time. However, it has not yet been decided if operators will be appointed for the lifts,'' official sources in the Corporation told The Times of India. The contractor selected to take up the construction of the FOB will be expected to complete the work in three months.

The corporation's decision to construct a FOB in front of the Saidapet court complex has evoked a welcome response from many road-users. Pedestrians have been finding it difficult to cross the road, particularly after it was made a one-way stretch.

"Since the road here is too wide and is always busy with the almost continuous movement of huge vehicles, we have to be cautious while crossing the road. Though a traffic police constable has been deployed at the spot to help the pedestrians, speeding vehicles do not bother to stop and care about the safety of pedestrians. A FOB here will certainly help pedestrians, particularly elderly people and children,'' said Chandran, a resident of Saidapet.

In March this year, a 27-year-old man when his two-wheeler was hit by a car was killed along the stretch. The motorist was thrown into a pit on the roadside after the car rammed his two-wheeler from behind. The car also fell into the pit.

The Chennai Corporation is already working to instal lifts to the existing FOB at Nungambakkam High Road and they are likely to be inaugurated in a week or two.

In Chennai, about 600 pedestrians were injured and around 130 pedestrians lost their lives in road accidents from January to June this year. During the period from January to December 2008, the number of victims was 1,373 and 231 respectively. The traffic police have requested the Corporation to construct FOBs at 10 to 12 places in the city.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 October 2009 05:39
 

CAG finds holes in road projects

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Deccan Chronicle 22.07.2009

CAG finds holes in road projects

July 22nd, 2009
By Our Correspondent

Chennai, July 21: The Chennai corporation has not taken up any major road widening work or formation of new roads. None of the 29 works proposed under the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Programme III during 2005–08 was taken up indicating the poor and tardy implementation of the project, according to a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Of 17 infrastructure works — 5 flyovers, 6 ROBs, 4 grade separators and two bridges — taken up by Chennai corporation, only one flyover was completed and two flyovers were under progress as of March 2008. About 48 road widening works were held up on account of non-shifting of electric poles and junction boxes despite payment of Rs 11.72 crore to the TNEB as shifting charges. Inadequate parking facilities, non-provision of separate cycle track, encroachment of footpaths, inadequate pedestrian guard rails and prioritised subways in Chennai Metropolitan Area contributed to deficient road development works and traffic management measures. Non-synchronisation of existing signals, non-implementation of scientific systems like area traffic control, ineffective monitoring through CCTV and inadequate traffic policemen affected traffic enforcement, the report said.

It suggested among other things a comprehensive time-bound traffic management programme for CMA taking into account existing traffic problems and anticipated population of 88.2 lakh population by 2011.

A performance review on traffic improvement and road safety revealed that accidents increased by 64 per cent from 4,202 in 2003 to 6,892 in 2007.

 


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