T Nagar pedestrian plaza waits for CM’s date

“We are awaiting a date from the Chief Minister to inaugurate the pedestrian plaza. During the inauguration function, he will walk on the plaza. We expect that the Chief Minister will inaugurate the pedestrian plaza within 10 days,” a Chennai Corporation source said.

The sources added that the Chief Minister would also sit on the street benches installed in the pedestrian plaza and hold discussions with officials.

The civic body, under the smart city mission, took up the project on Thiyagaraya Road in T Nagar at a cost of Rs 33.80 crore and works began in May 2018. As the civil works were completed, beautification works were completed a few days ago. Earlier, the civic body was expecting the Chief Minister’s date to inaugurate the pedestrian plaza before November 5.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the civic body is yet to appoint a project monitoring consultant to oversee the progression of construction works and operation of the plaza. During the inspection, Prakash reprimanded the officials for the failure. As per the norms, the civic body should appoint project monitoring consultants to monitor the construction works that are taken up under the smart city mission.

Once the pedestrian plaza is opened, the civic body would conduct cultural events such as dance and music apart from art competitions. After theinauguration, one-way traffic onlywould be allowed on the Thiyagaraya Road and parking would be allowed on 14 side streets that are undergoing redevelopment.