25-10-2012, 04:46 PM
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA)
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INTRODUCTION
Chennai is the fourth-largest city in India. It is a coastal city with the second largest
beach in the world. The climate is hot and humid but the breeze blowing from the
sea makes the climate bearable. It is India's major leather-producing center and
the quality of leather compares with the finest in the world. The City with its present
population of about 8 million generates about 11 million trips in a day, with about 6
million vehicular trips. The ever growing vehicular and passenger demands
coupled with constraints on capacity augmentation of the existing network have
resulted in chaotic condition during peak hours of the day.
POPULATION
The population of Chennai in1639 was 40000 and today the city is estimated to
have a population of 7.5 million, which gives a population density of about 6482
per sq. km. It is observed that with the population growth between 1921 and 1981
has been very rapid and similar trend continues.
INDUSTRIAL AND EMPLOYMENT SCENARIO
Economic growth of CMA has been slower in the large-scale formal industrial
sector compared to the growth in the small and marginal sectors in trade,
commerce and transport. Per capita income in CMA is rather low compared to
other metropolitan cities; it was Rs. 1760 per capita /month as per the house hold
survey carried out in 2005. About 65 percent of the population can be classified as
economically weaker section.
LAND USE POLICY
In 1973, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) was set up and
it was entrusted the task of implementation of the Master Plan. The detailed plan,
which was prepared for a time frame of over 20 years commencing from 1971,
deals with land development, traffic and transportation, housing and slum
clearance. At present the Master Plan for the year 2026 is under finalization. This
report is based on the draft Master Plan 2026.
RAIL NETWORK
The rail infrastructure in the Metropolitan area basically comprises of following
sections of railway which are treated as suburban sections:
(I) North line towards Gummidipoondi (BG line)
(II) West line towards Arakkonam (BG line) and
(III) Southern line towards Chinglepattu
PROJECT BRIEF
Chennai Central - Gummidipundi (48km, 16 stations) have been running on this
line since 1985.
Chennai Central to Arakkonam (69 km, 29 stations) .
Beach to Tambaram (30km, 18 stations) is the Chennai suburban system.
Apart from the above, a Rapid Transit System (RTS) on north-south corridor along
Buckingham Canal alignment from Chennai Beach to Velachery also exists. The
Rapid Transit System from Chennai Beach to Velachery with a route length of 20
kms is designed as Broad Gauge Double Line with 25 kV AC Traction and with
conventional EMU trains. The extension from Velachery to St. Thomas mount is
sanctioned and is being taken up for execution.
ROAD NETWORK AND TRAFFIC
The road layout in the metropolitan area is of radial pattern with 3 principal radial
arterials, viz. NH-5, NH-4, NH-45, to the north, west and south respectively. In
addition, there are two more radial arterials,(i) along the coast on the northern
side (Thiruvotriyur High Road) and (ii) between NH-4 and NH-45 (Arcot Road).
TRANSPORT PROBLEMS
Previous study in 1992 show that 33.8 percent of total road length has a Volume
/Capacity Ratio of more than 1.0 in the peak hours. Most of the roads in CBD are
congested and roads in older areas have inadequate or poor geometries. An
inadequate orbital road system, with lot of missing links, has put tremendous strain
on the radial network.
PAST STUDIES
A number of transportation studies were carried out in the past for Chennai
Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). These studies discussed travel
pattern, network characteristics and the degree of traffic saturation on the existing
roads in the Study Area. The following studies which recommended transportation
improvements in CMDA , have been reviewed.