Facing staff crunch, Corporation privatises maintainence of city parks

According to a Chennai Corporation official, the tenders for the private contractors were issued in six packages. “Selected contractors will maintain the parks. They will also repair any damages in the parks,” the official said. It is learnt that the civic body would spend Rs 25 crore for maintaining the 478 parks. 

“Recent special council meeting has adopted resolutions pertaining to the handing over of the parks to private firms. Work orders will be issued soon,” the official added. According to the resolution adopted during the special council, the 89 parks in Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram and Tondiarpet zones will be maintained by MK Construction, while M Mahesh would maintain 20 parks in Royapuram zone. “Close to 98 parks in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ambattur and Anna Nagar will be maintained by SP Builders and KCB Engineers will take care of 68 parks in Teynampet and Kodambakkam,” the resolution added.

In Valasaravakkam, Alandur and Adyar zones, Alpha Builders would maintained 134 parks dotting these zones. The 69 parks in Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones would be maintained by Vardhan Infrastructure. Justifying the decision to handing over the maintenance works to private contractors, the civic body officials cited lack of maintenance staff.

Corporation handed over 40 parks to individuals, resident welfare associations and private firms under parks adoption programme.