Completion of IT Corridor development in Chennai

February 9, 2006

The objective of this petition is to initiate a community dialogue with the Highways Department - Tamil Nadu, in reference to apparent delay in the completion of IT Corridor project (strengthening and widening of the Old Mahabalipuram road into six lanes), currently under execution in Chennai.

This petition seeks answers, to the questions listed below, from the Public Information Officer/Secretary of the Highways Department - Tamil Nadu.

Q1. Is there a slippage from the schedule of completion of the strengthening and widening of the IT Corridor project? (Refer L1. in the "IT CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY" below that contains a TN Govt website link that indicates that the project would be completed by Dec'05)

Q2. If there is a slippage, what are the reasons for the deviation from the schedule and where are the revised schedules published?

Q3. If the revised schedules are NOT published anywhere, please reply e-mail to OMR_ON_TIME@yahoo.co.in as to when exactly will the widened and improved six lane IT Corridor highway be ready for the public perusal?

IT CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY

This section contains links to articles/ references on the internet related to the IT Corridor Highway project. These references are either articles published in leading online press media or links from the Tamil Nadu Government Website or relevant acts or contact information.

This section contains links (named L1. L2...). The notes section under the link contains extracts from the article in that link.

These links are categorized into the following categories:

C1. Links from the Tamil Nadu Government Website
C2. Links from the press link "The Hindu"
C3. Links to info about Right to Information Act
C4. Contact information of the officials in Highways Department - Tamilnadu

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Category 1: From the Tamil Nadu Government Website:

L1. http://www.tn.gov.in/pressclippings/
archives/pc2005/newindpress/newindpress25022005.htm

Notes for L1: This link reads "The long wait by Chennaiites to have an express highway of international standard is over. Come December 2005, the city will be home to one of the best pieces of infrastructure which could rival those of its kind anywhere in the world.

Category 2: Articles from "The Hindu"

L2. http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/24/stories/2005022405540100.htm

Notes for L2:
1. The article says: "Under phase-I, the IT corridor, known as Old Mahabalipuram Road, will be strengthened and widened to six lanes from the Madhya Kailash temple at Adyar to Siruseri. The project is estimated to cost about Rs. 200 crores."
2. Under phase-I, contracts for the execution were finalized and the work would begin in March. "The duration is nine working months. So the improved road will be ready by December 2005," Mr. Rao said.

L3. Refer "The Hindu" dtd: 25-01-06

Notes for L3:

1. The article says: "Not even 10% of the road improvement has been completed whereas half of the work should have been finished by now".
2. The article says: "The original deadline was May. If the project progresses at this pace, the work may not be over by August"
3. The article says: "The executing agency has not mobilized adequate resources both in terms of material and manpower"

Category 3:. Information about Right to Information Act

L4 http://persmin.nic.in/RTI/WelcomeRTI.htm

Notes for L4:

The Right to Information Act came into force on 12-Oct-05 and it includes the right to:
i. Inspect works, documents, and records.
ii. Take notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records.
iii. Take certified samples of material.
iv. Obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts.[S.2(j)]

Category 4: Contact details of officials in the Highway Department - TamilNadu

L5. http://www.tnhighways.org/nod.htm

Category 5: Yahoo groups and yahoo id: OMR_ON_TIME
Notes: A yahoo groups by the name: OMR_ON_TIME and a yahoo id: OMR_ON_TIME@yahoo.co.in has been created for communication, interaction and planning between like minded people for future actions.