Date:01/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100161170500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Protest against road project

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Members of the Federation of Traders, Building Owners and Residents between Padi and Thiruninravur observed fast on Monday in Ambattur protesting the Chennai-Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road widening project to be taken up by the National Highways Authority of India.

The project to widen the road to 200 feet between Padi and Thiruninravur would affect nearly one lakh people, who either own residential or commercial buildings, they said. Federation president K. Mohan said widening the road to 80 ft. would suffice for four lane system proposed in the project to ease traffic congestion.

Diversion of heavy vehicles plying between Poonamallee and Koyambedu via Ambattur and Avadi caused traffic congestion. Once the work on the Chennai Bypass project gets over, the heavy vehicles would not ply on the CTH Road, facilitating free flow of traffic, he said.

Mr. Mohan said representations have been made to the authorities concerned about the impact of the road widening project on the livelihood of the traders.