Corporation to build 2 FOBs on Marina Loop Road

According a Chennai Corporation official, the civic body has already started a process to study the feasibility of building the foot overbridges, and has invited consultants to prepare a report fortheir construction.

The official added the civic body had already taken measures to construct a fish market on Loop Road so that they could shift fish vendors from the road. The move follows the direction by Madras High Court to clean-up the Marina beach, and to evict the fisher vendorsfrom the area.

The fish market would come up at an open space reservation area (OSR) on the road, and the officials said the foot overbridges would help the customers who visit the fish market.

As per data submitted by the civic body to the court, there are 356 fish vendors who have set up shops on the Loop Road, of which 269 are from Nochikuppam and Nochi Nagar.

During a meeting stakeholders conducted by the civic body a few months ago, the local fishermen had opposed the move to evict them. They expressed fear of loss of livelihood if they are moved to the market.

As part of the plan to develop the area, the civic body is also considering to link Loop Road directly to Besant Nagar by renovating the Broken Bridge that was damaged in floods decades ago.