Footpath along Taluk Office Road revamped with lights, fountains

 Officials plan to take up similar work on the other side of the road.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

The left side of Taluk Office Road in Saidapet now has a long, lit up footpath interspersed with greenery and quietly tinkling fountains.

The Highways Department beautified the 300-metre-long stretch adjacent to its campus, where the Chief Engineers’ offices and the Highways Research Station are located.

Below the 15 trees lining the path are round seating arrangements and mellow lights. Apart from shrubs along the paved walkway, Korean grass, shade grass, and Mexican grass have also been planted between the trees and the seats. The branches of the trees have been aesthetically trimmed, to ensure their safety, an official says.

The work, which includes automating the switching on and off of the lights and fountain, was taken up at a cost of ₹75 lakh. The lights will remain on from 6.30 p.m. till 5.30 a.m., and the fountain will turn off at 11 p.m.

“We have planned to beautify spaces on the other side of the road too, over a similar length. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue too will get a facelift,” another official said.

Mothi Chandrika, a resident of Perungudi who work at the Saidapet court, welcomed the beautification efforts, and said a similar walkway could be established near the court complex, so that visitors could relax there during the day. Small dustbins could be placed near it, she added.

Meanwhile, the construction of a storm-water drain and a 550-m-long footpath on the right side of Taluk Office Road, from the start of Maraimalai Adigal Bridge in Saidapet, is nearing completion. The work is being carried out at a cost of ₹2.5 crore.