Mayor sorry for row over anna arch

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Even as 68 resolutions were passed, Anna arch issue turned Chennai corporation council meet into a battleground with ruling AIADMK and DMK slamming each other for demolition move

The blame game over the Anna arch issue between the ruling AIADMK and its archrival DMK rocked the corporation council meet on Wednesday.

Not only the DMK, even AIADMK zonal chairman Santhanam slammed the mayor and the council for adopting a recent resolution favouring demolition of the arch for construction of a grade separator.

The mayor expressed regret and said the council just processed the proposal mooted during the previous DMK regime and was unaware of the intention. The CM intervened and had taken steps to protect the landmark structure.

Trouble began when AIADMK councillor Santhanam raised a query on the approval granted by the corporation for demolition of the arch.

Even as the mayor attempted to clarify his stand, the councillor interrupted and addressed him in a disrespectful tone, which triggered an uproar.

When Mr Santhanam asked why the decision to demolish the landmark was not announced at the meeting of the ward committee, the mayor said he was unaware that the project was approved during the previous DMK regime in 2010 to demolish the arch built by late CM M.G. Ramachandran.

“The officials of state highways department had failed to intimate me. I regret for having adopted a resolution to this effect; we all repent for our action,” the mayor said.

However not many AIADMK councillors were happy with the Santhanam's tone in the meet. The harsh comments also caused uproar among the ruling party members exposing factional feud.

CM inspects renovation work

Chief minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday inspected the work to restore landmark Anna arch.
After reviewing the work, Ms Jayalalithaa said the restoration of Anna arches had commenced.

“I came here to oversee the restoration work which commenced today,” she told reporters. Highways secretary Niranjan Mardi explained the measures to be undertaken by the department.

According to officials, restoration work would be completed in four months as the damaged steel rods would be replaced and strengthened with additional rods.

In a bid to strengthen the structure, a higher grade of cement concrete would be used, the official said, adding if needed the department would seek the help of a consultant in restoration work.

Work on demolition of arches to make for a Rs 117 crore flyover at the junction of Nelson Manickam road, EVR Periyar Salai and Anna Nagar Third Avenue was stopped after the intervention of Ms Jayalalithaa.

Subsequently, she chaired a review meeting at the secretariat on Monday and directed officials to take up restoration work from Wednesday.