CHENNAI: Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru inaugurated two key projects – a high-level bridge at Vadaperumbakkam, and an Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centre in Chettimedu village.

The bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 22.41 crore over the Puzhal Surplus Canal, connects Manali and Madhavaram zones. It resolves a persistent issue where the old bridge would submerge during rains, severely disrupting traffic for about one lakh residents.

The new structure is 190 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, designed for stability and two-way vehicle movement. The Rs 1.61 crore ABC Centre, spanning 3,582 square feet, features 26 rooms including an operating theatre, laboratory, and 20 kennels, aimed at managing the stray animal population humanely.

Minister Nehru also inspected several major lake development projects. These included renovation works at Manali Lake (Rs 6.70 crore) and Madhavaram Lake (Rs.11.78 crore), where a new walkway has been built and plans for boat rides are underway to develop it as a tourist spot. He further reviewed the large-scale reconstruction at Kadapakkam Lake, a Rs 58.33 crore project funded by the Asian Development Bank and Global Environment Facility.

The inspections were attended by Mayor R Priya, MLAs S Sudharsanam and KP Shankar, Deputy Mayor M Magesh Kumaar, GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran, CMWSSB managing director TG Vinay, and other senior officials.