Date:03/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/03/stories/2007040304520300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Plea to drop coastal elevated highway

Special Correspondent

"Airport expansion will hit settlements"

CHENNAI: Members of the Unorganised Workers Federation formed a human chain near the Gandhi statue on the Marina on Monday to press their demands and to mark the World Housing Rights Day.

The organisers said the participants urged the Government to drop the proposal for paving a coastal elevated highway from Ennore to Thiruvanmiyur.

The airport expansion plan should also be dropped as it would affect the human settlements at Pozhichalur, Pammal, Anakapathur and Cowl Bazaar, they said. Instead a Greenfield airport should be built to cope with the increasing air traffic.

The protestors also wanted housing recognised as a fundamental right and a new Urban Property Ceiling Act promulgated to achieve the socialist goals of the Constitution.