Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Corpn. budget may accord priority to road improvement
By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

CHENNAI, FEB. 21. Faced with a crumbling road and pavement network and `empty coffers,' the Chennai Corporation is on the lookout for funds that can give a boost to the road sector.

Officials are keen that road improvement should get a higher share in the coming budget of the Corporation, while the total allocation for capital works is likely to be brought down.

Following the heavy damage to roads in the last monsoon, the civic body is likely to seek a loan from the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDCO) for improvement of both interior and bus route roads in the city. Sources said that the loan amount is likely to be to the tune of Rs. 50 crores.

The 2002-2003 budget is likely to focus mainly on maintenance aspects with no major projects on the cards. Since the issue of devolution of funds to the civic body remains a moot point in the wake of the flyover controversy, the civic officials are treading cautiously. ``All the pros and cons will have to be looked into before any project proposal is given the go-ahead,'' said an official.

The total capital outlay is likely to be just over Rs.100 crores which is at least Rs. 80 crores less than the outlay in the financial year 2001-2002.

Last fiscal year, the Health department was allocated Rs. 12.5 crores but the revised estimate had brought the sum down to a mere Rs. 1.5 crores. Most of the funds were diverted towards contingency during the severe finance crunch that the civic body faced. Till now, the department has spent just over Rs. 70 lakhs towards small-time purchases and maintenance. Spillover works amounting to nearly Rs. 2 crores was being considered in the current budget, sources disclosed.

Meanwhile, pressure was mounting on the civic body to include a project to construct a railway bridge across Korukkupet level crossing, in the coming budget. The logistics of the project are still to be worked out but the officials are already finding themselves in the hot seat. More so because the AIADMK MLA from R.K.Nagar, P.K.Sekar Babu, had announced the scheme in the manifesto in the last general elections.

The Perambur flyover imbroglio has now put them in a fix. This time around, a comprehensive soil test will have to be done before any project is kicked off. ``The decision in this regard should not be based on emotions. We will have to exercise maximum caution not to replicate the fiasco arising out of the Perambur flyover construction project,'' says an official.

The inclusion of the Korukkupet railway bridge, which is likely to cost over Rs. 10 crores, in the budget still hangs in the balance as the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK have locked horns over the issue.

Officials said that even a feasibility study, a pre-requisite for any project of this size, has not been conducted. Moreover, there is no commitment from the State Government on the funds front. Sources pointed out that the State Government still owes the civic body Rs. 42 crores, stamp duty surcharge alone amounting to Rs. 22 crores.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Corpn. budget may accord priority to road improvement
• Death of animals triggers panic
• Survey of handicapped planned in Kancheepuram
• Fate of TN Petroproducts Park hangs in balance
• Kannagi torch reaches Chennai
• `Animal experimentation plays a role in medicine development'

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu