‘Revive Pattinapakkam-Besant Ngr Rd’

The Madras High Court has directed the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to investigate the scope of relaying the road between Pattinapakkam and Besant Nagar beach, reportedly washed away in the floods.

A division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice R Suresh Kumar, before whom the plea regarding beautifying Marina beach and streamlining the sale of fish on Loop Road came up on Friday, sought the Corporation to evolve a plan of reviving the connectivity between Pattinapakkam and Besant Nagar to handle the growing traffic in the area.

While posting the case for further hearing to March 18, the bench also sought the Corporation to file a status report regarding the repair of the damaged road and the unused overhead bridge between Pattinapakkam and Besant Nagar.

However, regarding the creation of fish market in a bid to move the sale of fish from the Loop Road, Additional Advocate General SR Rajagopal appearing on behalf of the State submitted that tenders have been floated for the creation of an alternative fish market in one acre out of the two acres allocated for this purpose nearby Queen Mary’s college.

The remaining one acre would be converted into a parking lot, he said. In the new market, priority would be given to fishermen who directly sell their produce after venturing into the sea, the government counsel added.

Based on this, the bench sought the Corporation to create awareness among fishermen about the relocation of the market and ensue that the market was for the exclusive use of fishermen from the Loop Road.