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Model pedestrian corridor planned
PILOT PROJECT: A view of the footpath alongside Dr. Muthulakshmi Salai, Adyar, that is to be upgraded.
Chennai: The Chennai Corporation has tied up with Chennai City Connect (CCC), a non-profit organisation, to develop standards for the improvement of footpaths and facilities for pedestrians.
As a first step, a stretch of Dr. Muthulakshmi Salai (Lattice Bridge Road) from the Shastri Nagar junction to the Mahatma Gandhi Road junction is set to be developed as a ‘model pedestrian-friendly corridor’.
Mayor M. Subramanian and CCC coordinator Raj Cherubal signed an agreement at Ripon Building on Tuesday. CCC will offer technical assistance to the civic body on footpath design, specifications of the quality of construction material and signage required for pedestrian safety.
It will offer the service on an honorary basis.
The Mayor said the upgraded footpaths would have the following improvements: The boundary separating the road and footpath would be easily visible; pedestrian crossings would be clearly painted, proper signage would be provided, no-parking areas demarcated and garbage bins placed correctly.
The Corporation would appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with other government agencies for the removal of phone and electricity junction boxes, encroachments and other structures obstructing pedestrian movement on footpaths.
A team of experts, with experience in urban planning and construction, would compile standards and processes for the construction, upgradation and maintenance of footpaths and pedestrian facilities. The US Department of Transportation’s guide on ‘Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access’ will be used as a seed document.
After successfully implementing the plan on the Dr. Muthulakshmi Salai stretch, the model would be replicated in other parts of the city, the Mayor said. A monitoring committee with representatives from the civic body and CCC would oversee the project implementation.
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