Chennai to invest ₹200 crore in transport infrastructure

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to create non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure along 200 kilometers of roads in the city. The project will cost around ₹200 crore and aims to beautify Chennai while enhancing safety for seniors and students. This announcement was made by Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister K.N. Nehru during an Assembly session. The new NMT system will feature wider footpaths, improved intersections, and street furniture. This is the largest investment in NMT since the GCC adopted an NMT policy in 2014. The goal was to reduce the use of personal vehicles and make travel safer for everyone, especially vulnerable groups. Despite past efforts, the GCC has struggled to increase walking and cycling trips, which remain below 40%. A significant portion of the existing NMT infrastructure has already been damaged, partly due to lack of coordination with other agencies. For example, the police built a booth on a wide NMT footpath without consulting the engineers who designed the area. Encroachments by vendors are also a problem, as many wide footpaths have become occupied. This forces pedestrians to walk on the road, undermining the investment in NMT. Additionally, the cycle sharing system has not been successful, and there is still uncertainty regarding designated vending zones in the city, despite multiple meetings to address the issue.