Pedestrian-friendly redevelopment in the offing for Lloyds Road
Chennai: Dusty, congested, and lined with encroachments — this is the current state of Lloyds Road, also known as Sir V P Raman Road. However, a 250-metre stretch of this key arterial road is set to get a facelift over the next four months.
As part of Nammaku Naame scheme, real estate firm DRA will undertake the redevelopment in collaboration with Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). The stretch, from Anna Statue towards the beach, will be upgraded at an estimated 1 crore.
As per the plan, the stretch will be made pedestrian-friendly, with walkways, public seating, landscaped spaces, energy-efficient LED lighting, and urban signage.
"The aim is to create a cleaner, greener, and more people-centric corridor," said Ranjeeth Rathod, managing director of DRA whose corporate headquarters is located on the road.
"Giving back to the very street that shaped our journey is meaningful to us," he added.
Residents say the road has become chaotic due to diversions for metro rail construction and poor enforcement. "Eateries have taken over the pavements. It's difficult for children and the elderly to walk, especially with heavy vehicles passing through," said Elanchezhian, a resident. "The street has turned into a public urinal. Pavements are blocked by bikes and autos. The usable width of road has shrunk. Revamp is welcome, but regular maintenance is critical," added Senthil Kumar, another resident.
The project is expected to be completed in four months.
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