CHENNAI: The pedestrian plaza on Khader Nawaz Khan (KNK) Road, developed over nearly two years, was inaugurated by Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday, turning a busy commercial stretch into a pedestrian-priority street.
Implemented by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) for Rs 19.81 crore, the project spans approximately 500 metres between the Uttamar Gandhi Salai junction and Rutland Gate 4th Street.
The redesign centres on widening and clearing pedestrian space on this busy retail corridor.
Around two metres of carriageway on both sides has been reclaimed to form continuous footpaths, replacing earlier cluttered and underused portions of the street, including areas occupied by unorganised parking.
The stretch now has accessible pavements, shaded seating, street furniture and bollards, while existing trees have been retained.
Cobblestone paving has been used to moderate vehicle speed, and designated drop-off bays have been set up to streamline pick-up and drop-off without interfering with pedestrian movement.
It is designated as a 'no parking' stretch, with off-street parking facilities arranged nearby, and establishments are expected to provide in-house parking for visitors.
A key part of the project also lies underground. Dedicated utility ducts carrying water supply, sewer, stormwater, electricity and telecom lines have been built along footpaths with the intention of reducing repeated road cutting and simplifying future maintenance.
Stormwater drainage along the stretch has also been cleared and improved.
The KNK pedestrian plaza is part of the city's Complete Streets programme promoting walkable neighbourhoods.
With this, it becomes the city's second pedestrian-focused commercial street after the T Nagar pedestrian plaza, with six more similar projects in the pipeline.