Station Service Road in Velachery set for a major revamp
The pockmarked Station Service Road in Velachery which has turned into a nightmare for motorists will soon undergo repairs, as the Chennai Corporation is all set set to take up improvement work on the stretch. The service road which was originally constructed by the Southern Railway and runs parallel to the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Velachery to Taramani railway station is a boon for motorists to escape the heavily-congested Taramani Link Road to reach Rajiv Gandhi Salai at Taramani. The service road was paved to create access road to Perungudi and Taramani railway stations for the residents of East Velachery.
Southern Railway handed over the 3.20-kilometre service road to the Chennai Corporation last year after it faced difficulties in maintaining the road. The civic body had, in the initial stages, installed the street lights for the road more than two years ago. The Station Service road had become unmotorable after it was dug up a few years ago for installing high tension underground power cable from the Taramani substation to Guindy substation for improving the electricity network by Tantransco.
S. Harshvardhan, a resident of Madipakkam, said the road has become busy during morning and evening peak hours as hundreds of motorists bound to Rajiv Gandhi Salai use this stretch. However the condition of the road is bad with the concrete poured over the gravel to patch up the dug-up portion of the road having worn out. Half the two-lane road cannot be used. The road becomes slushy with water stagnating in puddles whenever there is even a drizzle as the storm water drain network constructed on both sides of the road has been damaged in several places.
Social activist S. Kumararaja said the road was also once used by pedestrians who are now avoiding the uneven stretch riddled with potholes. The macro canal constructed to prevent flooding of residential colonies and help drain into the Pallikaranai marshland has been clogged with construction debris.
A senior official of the Chennai Corporation said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was in the final stages of preparation as the entire upgradation and improvement works are to be executed at a total cost of Rs. 26 crore excluding the road relaying work. For the road repavement component, which is to be executed by Bus Route Road division, the cost comes to Rs. 8.09 crores. While the tender has been opened the work order for identifying the contractor was yet to be finalised.
The senior civic official pointing out the road improvement project to be carried out under 'MRTS Sammoga Cholai cum healthwalk' similar to pedestrian plaza would have the following components of well paved footpath, dedicated cycling track, road markings with walkway and kerb paintings, open gym, toilet block and waiting shelters, would completely transform the road.
New street lights along with high mast lamps at all the junctions have been proposed. Both the macro and micro drains running along the road would be fully renovated, tge official added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Year-round rations help boost tiger force morale, curb poaching: Similipal director
Bhubaneswar: Providing rations to the 800-strong protection force throughout the year, the only reserve in the country to do so, has helped raise motivation levels and reduce poaching cases, authorities of Similipal Tiger Reserve said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Started last year, the initiative costs the forest department Rs 1.8 crore annually. "While the initiative has significantly reduced poaching, it has also improved staff attendance and morale. The protection team, comprising Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) personnel, ex-Army members and protection assistants, has shown improved commitment to their duties through the unique measure. Monthly, we spend around Rs 1,800 per personnel towards ration costs. The field personnel are able to get better nutrition, keep fatigue at bay, maintain energy and work on a timely basis. There is hardly any instance of unauthorised leave," said Similipal field director Prakash Gogineni. Authorities said Similipal used to report at least five poaching and attempted poaching cases a month, which has now dropped to one. "Apart from sincerity, loyalty and raised motivation levels of staff because of free rations, the use of technology, especially AI and infra-red cameras, introduction of all-terrain vehicles and firearms, have helped check poaching incidents," Gogineni added. Wildlife officials said there is not a single patch in the 2,750sq km area of Similipal which is inaccessible now, thanks to technology, staff welfare and high-end vehicles. In monsoon, the wildlife wing used to deploy a separate strategy for foot patrolling as most of the forest routes were inhospitable. Now, the situation has changed. "In all the anti-poaching and STPF camps, there are cooks and mess leaders who plan the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now An experienced staffer among them does the cooking. They stock up the groceries for a week. Since it is hilly terrain, groceries have to be brought in small trucks to the camps. When the forest department was not providing rations, the field staff used to get tired while negotiating the hilly terrain," said a wildlife officer. Each STPF team has 25 personnel, comprising 5 from STPF, 5 ex-Army and 15 protection assistants, who are not regular employees. Mostly, they carry out patrolling along the footpaths in the deep forest where poachers operate. However, each team has been provided with a specialised ATV. They carry walkie-talkies but the control room or their base camps receive distress calls from the field personnel in case of lightning or if they are attacked by poachers, wildlife officials said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Jagannathpur gears up for Rath Yatra with tight security, eco push
1 2 Ranchi: The district administration has intensified preparations for the Jagannathpur Rath Yatra, scheduled from June 27 to July 5, with a focus on crowd management, sanitation, eco-friendly practices, and structural safety. On Sunday, DC Manjunath Bhajantri conducted an inspection of the 40-ft-high chariot and held a review meeting with senior officials and temple committee members. The chariot, crafted by artisans from Puri and Jharkhand, is nearing completion and will soon be stationed on the Jagannath temple premises for final rituals. Made of sal, mango, and jamun wood, the Rs 7 lakh Rath features eight wheels for balance: two in front, four at the centre, and two at the back, and a top singhasan (throne) for deities Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra. It will be pulled manually by devotees. "The Rath's crown will be decorated with red and yellow cloth from Puri, topped with a brass kalash, Sudarshan Chakra, and a ceremonial flag. Figures of Jay-Vijay (doorkeepers), wooden horses, and elephants will adorn the front, with an 'ulta suga' (parrot) placed facing north-south, as per temple tradition," said chief priest Thakur Sudhanshu Nath Shahdeo The DC's inspection included a walk-through of the procession route from Jagannath Temple to Mausi Bari, where he instructed officials to ensure clear passage for devotees, install barricades, and deploy volunteers at critical points. Arrangements for ambulances, fire tenders, drinking water, portable toilets, and 24/7 electricity have been finalized. SSP Chandan Sinha confirmed that CCTV cameras and watch towers are being installed, and police-magistrate teams will be posted at sensitive spots. "We've planned restricted vehicular entry and traffic diversions to ensure smooth movement during the Rath pull," he said. Vendors have been directed to avoid plastic items like disposable cups and plates. The administration has made biodegradable plates (donas and pattals) mandatory. Every stall must maintain its own dustbin, and solid waste teams will be on standby. On the other hand, Ranchi Municipal Corporation is also conducting a special sanitation drive around the Dhurwa temple area. Measures include drain cleaning, garbage removal, bleaching powder and fogging, along with deployment of water tankers, mobile toilets, and dustbins to ensure cleanliness and convenience for devotees.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Our land is not for sale: Ratnagiri village stands up to urban buyers
Ratnagiri: The tiny village of Ambavali, nestled in Western Ghats of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district, has declared that its land not for sale — not to real estate agents, not to developers, not to 'outsiders'. The decision, born from a deep sense of betrayal and fear of displacement, is more than just a refusal to sell, it is a powerful act of self-preservation by a community determined to protect its legacy, land, and dignity at all costs. When TOI visited this village, 250km from Mumbai located in Mandangad tehsil with its 313 hectares of fertile land, it reflected a haven of mango orchards, cashew trees, paddy fields, and ragi fields. But beyond its natural beauty lay something far more precious-- its people's connection to their land. The gram panchayat's bold resolution was unanimously adopted in Dec 2023 during a village-wide meeting. The trigger was a govt announcement that the Ravas-Reddi Coastal Highway would pass close to the village. Within days, brokers, investors, and land agents began flocking to Ambavli, offering villagers large sums of money for their land. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo At first, some were tempted. One man sold his patch of land for ₹2 lakh. But what followed shook the village to its core. "We later found out that the same land was sold again for over Rs one crore," village sarpanch Mahendra Ratate said. "We felt cheated. That's when we realised we had to act before it was too late." The pain of that deception quickly turned into resolve. The gram sabha was called immediately. Families living in cities took time off work to return home. What followed was an emotional yet unanimous decision -- no villager would sell an inch of land to 'outsiders' ever again. Today, a weatherproof signboard greets all visitors at the entrance of the village. which reads: "No land within or outside Ambavli, owned by a village resident, shall be sold to outsiders. Any attempt to do so will be considered a violation of this decision. Outsiders are advised not to engage in land dealings here. The village will not be responsible for any losses incurred due to fraudulent transactions. Brokers misleading villagers will also be held accountable. " The message echoes throughout the village — on its walls, trees, and farm gates. It's not just a notice, it's a manifesto. Only 150 people, mostly senior citizens, currently reside in the village. The rest — the youth — have migrated to Mumbai, Pune, and other cities for work. And yet, their roots remain deeply planted in Ambavali. Sandesh Dhavade, a 40-year-old farmer, speaks of his inheritance with pride. "My grandfather built our house with his bare hands and preserved our land with what little he had. My father followed the same path. They gave us a legacy, not just property. It's my responsibility now to protect it, not sell it — no matter the offer." His words reflect the sentiment of many in the village. For them, the land is not a commodity but a sacred bond — with their ancestors, their identity, and the future of their children. As more rural regions fall prey to land grabs and unregulated development, water scarcity and ecological degradation are rising across Indian cities. Ambavali's residents are determined not to walk the same path. "Environmental concerns also drove our decision," the village notice explains. "Selling land to outsiders would risk depletion of our natural resources, especially water, and could create future emergencies. We are protecting our land for generations yet to come." This isn't a rejection of progress. The villagers insist they are not anti-development. Anant Ratate, another local, said, "We are not against roads, bridges, or any govt projects that follow the rules. What we are against is selling our homes to people who don't understand our soil, our needs, or our culture. If we do that, we will one day become guests in our village."
