IT Corridor Road project

[Anniyan]

About IT Corridor
IT Corridor is an important road connecting Chennai with Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu for a length of 45 km. The road, earlier called Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), starts from Madhya Kailash Temple Junction on Sardar Patel Road in south-east Chennai and terminates on East Coast Road near Mahabalipuram.

The prestigious TIDEL Park, home to a number of BPO and IT/ITES companies and also the facilities of almost all major IT/ITES Companies in the country are situated along the IT Corridor. Prominent Government Institutes and technical/ educational institutions are also situated along the Corridor.

Besides, Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (SIPCOT) has developed a Cyber City, spread over 2000 acres in Siruseri, abutting the IT Corridor. A number of IT/ITES Companies are in the process of setting up their facilities in the Cyber City


Genesis of Project
Due to heavy movement of traffic and on account of poor soil conditions, the pavement of the Corridor has substantially deteriorated. The opening of the Mass Rapid Transit Line along the first three km stretch and prevalence of densely populated areas in the Kottivakkam-Perungudi stretch have also led to congestion and accidents. The IT Corridor Project aims at improving the Corridor to a world-class facility in consonance with the progressive and IT/ITES friendly image of Tamil Nadu.

About ITEL
TNRDC has incorporated a special purpose vehicle titled IT Expressway Ltd (ITEL) as a wholly owned subsidiary, for domiciling the IT Corridor Project. ITEL being an investment vehicle, has engaged TNRDC as its Managing Associate and is responsible for project implementation and operations and maintenance of IT Corridor.

Project Phasing
The IT Corridor Project is being implemented in two phases – Phase-I between Madhya Kailash Temple Junction and Siruseri and Phase-II between Siruseri and Mahabalipuram. The 2.1 km long ECR Link Road connecting IT Corridor at Sholinganallur and East Coast Road at Kudumiyandithoppu is also included in Phase-I.

Project Description
In Phase-I, the 20.1 km between Madhya Kailash Temple Junction to Siruseri is being widened to dual three lane carriageway with median, service road, non-motorised vehicle (NMV) lane, pedestrian footpath and planter strip. The ECR Link Road will also be improved to dual two lane carriageway.

It is also proposed to construct a vehicular underpass at Thiruvanmiyur Road Junction. Besides, four or five pedestrian subways are also being planned.

Another significant feature of the Project is the construction of service trenches/ducts for conveying utility lines including electrical, telephony and optic fibre cables/wires so as to avoid digging in future. The water and sewer lines would be conveyed under the footpath.

Extensive landscaping and arboriculture, road side arts and sculpture works and value added services are also being proposed. A ten lane state-of-the-art toll plaza would be located at Perungudi along with a modern Toll Administration-cum-Office Block.

ITEL is also responsible for implementing a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan for rehabilitating project affected families/structures.

Besides, a number of community development initiatives have also been included in the project scope. A solid waste management project on pilot basis is structured for the Karapakkam Village. Community tree plantation for seven villages along the Corridor is also being proposed. The Government School in Thoraipakkam and Panchayat School in Navalur would be rehabilitated as part of the Project.

The estimated Project Cost of Rs 250 Cr will be funded by contribution from GoTN, TNEB and Service Providers and term loans. This cost excludes cost of land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement which are being fully borne by GoTN.

The implementation of IT Corridor Project is in progress and is expected to be completed by early 2007.

Feasibility Studies for Phase-II have already been completed and its implementation would be taken up, subject to obtaining necessary approvals.

[Anniyan]

the IT Corridor way......

Extensive Street Marking and Furniture,

Landscaping, Beautification of MRTS Columns

[Anniyan]

Junctions with signature.

Elements of nature...Junctions as landmarks......

[Fusionist]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

J

its things like this that brings character to the city cna aswell turn up to be iconic

[Anniyan]

Ten lane State-of-the-Art Toll Plaza at Perungudi
- two lanes on either side to have electronic toll collection system
- vechiles opting for OBU units to zip through

[Arul Murugan]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

Ten lane State-of-the-Art Toll Plaza at Perungudi
- two lanes on either side to have electronic toll collection system
- vechiles opting for OBU units to zip through

As per Anniyan's post.

It should be a 10 lane toll plaza!

[Into_salem]

Originally Posted by Arul Murugan

As per Anniyan's post.

It should be a 10 lane toll plaza!

Looks really impressive. Hope it gets completed like this.

[Arul Murugan]

Lastly i travelled in Tidel-Sholinganallur stretch before 2 weeks. At that time just i saw a board

"SITE FOR TOLL PLAZA" at Perungudi. No works were going on near the site!

May be u might have seen few people near the site...............

Anyway thanks for your information

[Arul Murugan]

Few photos taken today

ECR link road - Kalaignar Karunanidhi Salai.

ECR Junction

Is this road part of Chennai ORR??





Few buildings on IT corridor seen from ECR link road





Except the bridge on buckingham canal, road works completed. There is some works going on both the sides of the road, i dont whether its gonna be service road or for another lane!!

[Anniyan]

Buckingham Canal Beautification

Making the Impossible..Possible! (?)

[satish]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

Buckingham Canal Beautification

Making the Impossible..Possible! (?)

I have seen this presentation by TNRDC head about couple of months ago. I tell you, this road will look just like what has been presented. This road is 90% complete till Tidel Park jn and within a months time, this will be the best road in Chennai. It is already a pleasure driving on this stretch. Just yesterday lights got switched on for most of this stretch. Lights were also beautiful.

Buckingham canal in this stretch is unique. This canal generally runs from north (AP) to south (Pondicherry) but at this stretch alone, it drains northwards into Adyar river. So, they have to plug just this part and not all of Chennai. That is why this will a successful and they will be able to beautify it so fast. Other waterways are no way close to getting cleaned up.

TNRDC is also involved in developing eco park at Adyar river. Some news regarding this was published sometime ago. He said it was still too early but would be world class.

[Anniyan]

THE FUTURE

Six Main Lanes, Service Roads, Non Motor Vehicle Lanes, Pedestrian Footpath, Service ducts.....

[Arul Murugan]

No! 8years before road was like below. It is pure Indian standard road, yes it is 30yrs old looking when we compare it with western countries or SE asian countries.

Originally Posted by Anniyan

THE FUTURE

Six Main Lanes, Service Roads, Non Motor Vehicle Lanes, Pedestrian Footpath, Service ducts.....

[satishanu]

Arul, super updates...

[cofee]

Ministry grants Rs 300 cr for Maritime University
Business Standard: March 09, 2010


Chennai: The Shipping Ministry has allocated Rs 300 crore to the Indian Maritime University to create infrastructure facilities including academic complex, administrative building, library, hostels and residential accommodation over the next five years.

As a first step, a ‘bhoomi pooja’ was performed for the construction of the university’s academic and administrative complex at Semmenjeri, near Chennai on Saturday.

Union Minister for Shipping GK Vasan, who was here to participate in the pooja, said the university would be unique in the country and produce ‘high quality’ manpower in the maritime sector not only for India but also meet international requirements.

The university, headquartered at Chennai, was announced in November 2008 through an Act of Parliament by integrating seven government-owned maritime academic institutions.

IMU vice chancellor P Vijayan said the academic and administrative complex was expected to come up in a year’s time. Of the 300 acres allotted for the campus, the university will utilise 106 acres and the remaining land would be for a national maritime complex.

The complex will be built in public-private-partnership and have facilities like maritime museum, international convention centre with a seating capacity of 15,000, a five-star hotel and a catering college.

[Babji]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

About IT Corridor

...Another significant feature of the Project is the construction of service trenches/ducts for conveying utility lines including electrical, telephony and optic fibre cables/wires so as to avoid digging in future. The water and sewer lines would be conveyed under the footpath.

this is a wonderful idea. this would save a lot of money, time and hassels in terms of maintenance and enhancements. hopefully, other parts of the country should also adapt this kind of innovative ideas.
land scaping is beautiful.
do they have any nation-wide electronic toll collection system in place or proposals there of?
(as against each toll way having a diff electronic system, making it complicated for road users across the country)

[sudheeshnairs]

Originally Posted by Babji

this is a wonderful idea. this would save a lot of money, time and hassels in terms of maintenance and enhancements. hopefully, other parts of the country should also adapt this kind of innovative ideas.

Babji, I think this is the norm adopted in any modern road development project, to have service ducts on either side of the road. Hope all new road projects in India is adopting such practices.

The 42 kms of roads being developed by the Trivandrum Roads Development Company Ltd (TRDCL) are having service ducts through out on either side. Apart from this, there are seperate ducts for rainwater drainage. Every 50m, there is a 'transverse duct' connecting the ducts on the two sides. So this helps to avoid cutting across the roads for laying the cables

Service ducts


Transverse ducts




Apart from TRDCL roads, City roads that come under NH subdivision also has two trenches on either side. But the difference with TRDCL roads is that they are not ducts, but simple trenches covered by slabs, which are used as footpaths. And there is no transverse duct.

[satish]

Originally Posted by Babji

do they have any nation-wide electronic toll collection system in place or proposals there of?
(as against each toll way having a diff electronic system, making it complicated for road users across the country)

Nation wide toll collection? This is just a 20 km road in Chennai. Tolls will be collected from Chennai city and not for residents who live along this corridor.

I don't know how successful this toll collection is going to be. While I would say 90% (wild guess) of users of this road are from city, this would change dramatically. This because we will see lot more residential developments along this corridor. And we will see more cars being used by people who live here than by people from city who use company operated buses. I think either everyone should pay or no one does.

[nsk]

Originally Posted by satish

Nation wide toll collection? This is just a 20 km road in Chennai. Tolls will be collected from Chennai city and not for residents who live along this corridor.

I don't know how successful this toll collection is going to be. While I would say 90% (wild guess) of users of this road are from city, this would change dramatically. This because we will see lot more residential developments along this corridor. And we will see more cars being used by people who live here than by people from city who use company operated buses. I think either everyone should pay or no one does.

Great Work Anniyan..

Snaps from Madhya Kaliash - Tidel Park part will be an treat..

Toll collection will be an success.. very soon toll will be introduced in GHQ .. so i belive it will become norm of the day..

[satish]

Originally Posted by nsk

Great Work Anniyan..

Snaps from Madhya Kaliash - Tidel Park part will be an treat..

Toll collection will be an success.. very soon toll will be introduced in GHQ .. so i belive it will become norm of the day..

Tolls on GQ or even ECR are very different from collecting tolls on OMR. OMR would be used everyday by thousands of cars, all passing through it within one hour. So, there is the issue of traffic jams. There would more issues:
1. How are you going to distinguish people who drive a couple of KMs as opposed to someone who drives 20 kms.
2. What about cars that join at Thoraipakkam or Sholing? Would these also have to pay tolls? How are they going to differentiate them from residents along this corridor?

Tolling such city roads are essentially flawed. Imagine tolling all city roads. Why discriminate users of this road alone and not Anna salai, Ponamalle Rd or IRR? And why did I pay that road tax in the first place?