CRZ clearance to make Marina disabled-friendly

The Greater Chennai Corporation has availed the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances from the Union Environment Ministry to set up two pathways for the persons with disabilities on the Marina.

According to Chennai Corporation sources, the two pathways were proposed to help the persons with disabilities to reach the tide line on wheelchairs. “CRZ clearances were given to lay the pathways near Labour statue and Gandhi statue. But the officials have a sent fresh application seeking clearance to lay pathways near Avvaiyar statue and Thiruvalluvar statue, too,” a Chennai Corporation source said.

It is learnt that the civic body civic body had also sent another application seeking clearance for Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar. The CRZ clearance was denied citing the nesting of Olive Ridley turtles.

The civic body has decided to implement the project with the funds from Bharat Dharsan scheme.

“As the structures are planned to be eco-friendly, we will not lay concrete pathways. Instead, we will lay interlocking slabs made of treated wood or cement as used in railway tracks,” a Corporation official said.

Once the pathways are completed, the Chennai Corporation would provide wheelchairs with modified wheels so that the persons with disabilities could move on the sand near tideline easily.