75 trees to be axed for the proposed new link road

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

The state highways department has begun pre-construction work for

the New Link Road project, connecting Greenways Road with Durgabai

Deshmukh Road in RA Puram cutting down six huge trees near the

Government Music College inside the arch in Greenways Road.

Another 70 trees are expected to be removed to make way for the 630

m link road, which aims to provide an alternative route for vehicles

travelling through Greenways Road and Santhome to reach Adyar,

Mylapore and Guindy.

Residents have opposed the tree felling, pointing out that many of

them are decade old and provide habitat for birds while reducing the

heat in the neighborhood. It’s painful to see these trees go. We are

always going to have more vehicles and no number of new roads is

enough to meet the traffic. The government should consider

alternatives that do not involve cutting of so many old trees.

Officials in the Highways Department Chennai Metropolitan

Development Plan (CMDP) Wing said that the alignment was finalized

after a feasibility study and that permission was obtained from the

district green committee.

They say tree removal was necessary for transportation of construction

equipment. Of the trees identified 12 will be transplanted and the

remaining while the remaining will be compensated with aforestation

on a 1:10 ratio

According to Divisional Engineer D Sathya, the alignment will allow

vehicles from Santhome to turn left at the Music College follow the

new link road and turn right onto Dr Durgabai Deshmukh Road before

Dr MGR Janaki College for Arts and Science compound wall. The road

will be one way, and junction improvements will be made to facilitate

traffic flow toward Adyar, Guindy and Mylapore.

Madurai-based Notch India Projects was awarded the Rs 26.8 Crore

project aims to complete the work in one year to minimize delays for

Metro work.

The Ramaniyam Towers Residents Association on Greenways Road

inside the Arch has petitioned the Collector of Chennai the need to

drop the proposal.

The prestigious Tamil Nadu Government Music College located at the

end of our road is a heritage building called Brodies Castle known for its

tradition of teaching the fine arts of Carnatic music, vocal and

instrumental, and Bharatha Natyam

“It has been our privilege and pleasure to watch hundreds of students

walk into our quiet street to this College. For the past 26 years since

Ramaniyam Towers was constructed, we have enjoyed a peaceful

lifestyle here, the only sounds being that of Carnatic music, and the

chirping of the birds

We received a rude shock when we heard about a road diversion

project underway which would cut right into the heart of this quiet cul

de sac, a road which was financed and constructed jointly by the

residents of Ramaniyam Towers and the Music College,” the petition

said

Several residents have pointed out the hazards of going ahead with this

project, both on humanitarian grounds (as there are visually challenged

students who attend this college) and also on geological, environmental

and ecological grounds.

This project has been thrust project upon our building and the Music

College with no due consultative process at all. All attempts to

reconsider have fallen on deaf ears unfortunately.

The entrance of our road is marked by the iconic Arch which proudly

bears the name of TN Govt Music College. This project will knock down

our arch, plough its way through this private road, and also cut across

the home of a famous violinist Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan and demolish

the Government Veterinary clinic abutting our building.

The intended road, would entail cutting a considerable numbers of tall

well grown trees of 50 years, which have all been marked to be cut, to

enable this road to be built .So far, six huge trees have been felled, with

69 more trees to go

These trees have provided shelter to innumerable birds of different

species. In addition, this will also create vehicular pollution, huge dust

and noise pollution which will disrupt the local flora and fauna.

“We implore upon the Government to consult the relevant

departments who would have the authority to sign on this project, to

issue orders to stop cutting precious trees which are a source of life to

the local flora and fauna of this idyllic location,” says Dr Parvathi

Padmanabhan, a dermatologist and a resident of Ramaniyam Towers.