Corporation to take up landscaping works along two stretches of Cooum river

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has proposed two projects worth a combined ₹50.52 lakh to landscape two stretches of the Cooum riverfront around Napier Bridge.

The works cover a 500-metre stretch between Napier Bridge and the river mouth, and a 1.20-km stretch along Sivanandha Salai from Napier Bridge to Periyar Bridge. The GCC expects to complete the work in a month and maintain the landscaped stretches for 12 months.

The projects, under the Corporation’s Park Department, cover two areas in Teynampet Zone and one in Royapuram Zone. The first project is estimated to cost ₹14.98 lakh in first phase and the second project would cost ₹35.53 lakh.

The work includes clearing light vegetation across 1,973 sq. metres, planting ornamental shrubs and ground-cover plants, and providing soil for planting. The proposed planting includes 385 Clerodendron plants [green-leaved and variegated ornamental plants], 561 Pandanus plants [tropical plants] and 2,033 Tradescantia plants [wandering plants or spiderworts which have coloured leaves].

On the Sivanandha Salai stretch, the proposed work includes clearing vegetation across 16,080 sq. metres and maintaining 1,460 sq. metres of park area. Planting will include 2,500 Clerodendron plants, 9,000 Ixora shrubs and 1,500 dwarf Nerium shrubs.

The project also includes park maintenance over 730 sq. metres, along with irrigation arrangements — pressure-compensating irrigation pipes extending to 4,000 metres, 2,989 pressure-compensated drippers, a booster pressure pump, a jet motor and water storage tanks.

Other components include excavation and concrete work for foundations, brickwork, plastering and painting of walls, installation of a grill gate with a sheet door, and paving with Kadappa stone. The work also provides for electrical wiring and an LED light fitting.

Focus on SWD

Meanwhile, Standing Committee (Works) Chairperson N. Chitrarasu said the committee was not informed of the project although mechanical and other works come under this department. “There are many damaged stormwater drains [SWDs], mainly in Kodambakkam and in Nungambakkam near Loyola College. Earlier, a systematic data was maintained about these issues and officials would submit these to the committee, but so far, no such updates have been given,” he said.

The GCC must focus on monsoon management as priority before taking up such projects, he noted.