"Chennai Corporation greenlights Phase 2 of citywide sidewalk expansion and improvement."

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council recently approved the second phase of a footpath construction project at six locations across the city, in line with the State government’s announcement to develop 200 km of footpaths at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore.

The new phase will cover Sardar Patel Road, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Kamarajar Salai, New Avadi Road, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, and Paper Mills Road.

The council also cleared a series of major infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of Sir Pitti Thyagaraya Hall at a cost of ₹1.86 crore. A new council hall and office complex will be constructed on the Ripon Building campus at an estimated cost of ₹75.05 crore.

Approval was given for the construction of new school buildings at Portuguese Church Street (₹4.55 crore), Annai Sivakami Nagar 11th Street (₹3.93 crore), and Chellappa Street (₹4.58 crore). In the sports sector, the council sanctioned a ₹10-crore upgrade of the JJ Indoor Stadium and the construction of a new sports facility at Aspiran Garden for ₹4.80 crore.

Infrastructure works at the Pulianthope slaughterhouse were approved at an additional cost of ₹9.29 crore. The council also cleared the procurement of six high-capacity suction-cum-jetting machines at an estimated cost of ₹12 crore to strengthen civic services.

For recreational development, the council approved the purchase of boats for facilities at Madhavaram Lake, Manali Lake, and near the Tiruvottiyur railway bridge. It also sanctioned the lease of TANSI land on Walltax Road for ₹6.7 lakh to establish a temporary bus terminal.

In other decisions, the council approved the renaming of Balakrishna Colony 3rd Street as T.V. Viswanathan Street and John Trevor Street as K. Veerasamy Street. A new park in Ramapuram will be named after freedom fighter S.S. Viswananthadas.

The council further resolved to install statues of Tamil martyrs Thalamuthu and Natarajan at the Chennai Schools complex in Egmore, and a statue of B.R. Ambedkar at the Victoria Hall premises.