A drive to disaster

But that was the last people heard of the plan, which had proposals on roads, bridges and flyovers in various spots across the city. Some say the delay is because the real estate lobby is closely linked to the blue print.

Inaction from the authorities in planning and regulating the growth has resulted in the present chaos on the roads even during non-peak hours. Hence, flyovers and bridges are being constructed to ease the present congestion though experts warn that unplanned works could backfire.

The multi-level car parking facilities, proposed by the Chennai Corporation at six places across the city, are yet to take off with government departments fighting against each other over the land that the project would take up.

There have been attempts at easing the pressure on city roads by both the incumbent and previous regimes, but politics got the better of them.

Towards the fag end of its rule, the AIADMK government had announced its decision to come up with a monorail network. Soon after assuming power, the Karunanidhi government scrapped the project, preferring the metro rail system that had worked well in New Delhi.

The state government also announced that it would set up self-contained satellite cities outside the core business district of Chennai to accommodate industries and house employees. Thus, argued authorities, a township could be planned and developed outside the city, taking a significant number of households outside the congested areas. But this line of argument did not find favour with the PMK’s S. Ramadoss, who reacted sharply against “acquiring land from the common man” for these townships. He blamed the then IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran “as the businessman who mooted the idea to his granduncle”, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. The plan was thus quietly buried.

On the brighter side, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation that runs the bus service has introduced better buses and some air-conditioned Volvos to attract commuters.

Also, the state government seems to be moving fast to implement the Metro project. The three corridors will connect the length and breath of the city and suburbs, while an efficient bus system would act as the feeder service. However, that is about eight years away. Till then, the only time you can enjoy your drive is the scenic East Coast Road that leads to Mahabalipuram and Puducherry.