Chennai Corporation plans eco-restoration of two ponds in Vyasarpadi, floats tenders

CHENNAI: The city corporation has proposed eco-restoration and public realm development intends for two waterbodies in Vyasarpadi – the Old Goodshed Road Railway Pond and Kalyanapuram Pond – under the central government's Urban Challenge Fund (UCF).

Key points

• It had been reduced to around 2.28 acres due to encroachments, has now been expanded to almost 9.5 to 9.64 acres.
• Bund-top walking and cycling tracks Improved public access points Native and riparian plantations Bird-nesting zones.
• While additionally creating public-use spaces, the initiative intends to improve the ecological function of the ponds and their role in groundwater recharge and flood mitigation.
• Though the tenders have been floated as limited tenders, authorities clarified the procurement process was adopted as the projects are time-bound.
• Open-air gyms Viewing decks Boundary fencing and safety railings to prevent re-encroachment.

While additionally creating public-use spaces, the initiative intends to improve the ecological function of the ponds and their role in groundwater recharge and flood mitigation. The civic body at present maintains 246 ponds and has been rejuvenating around 70 to 80 waterbodies annually. Restoration works of around 230 ponds throughout the city have been completed, according to official data.

In practice, the Old Goodshed Road Railway Pond. It had been reduced to around 2.28 acres due to encroachments, has now been expanded to almost 9.5 to 9.64 acres. The restored pond is projected to have a storage capacity of around 1.17 lakh cubic metres after the removal of invasive vegetation and debris left behind by earlier metro rail works, bund strengthening and construction of an inlet culvert. The restoration is projected to assist reduce inundation in Nehru Nagar and MGR Nagar.

After this, the civic body has now planned to extend the work by creating public spaces, including bund-top walking and cycling tracks, improved public access points, native and riparian plantations, bird-nesting zones, wetland-edge treatment, seating, solar lighting, signage and entry plazas.

In practice, the corporation has floated tenders to engage consultants to prepare detailed project reports for these projects. It will assess the physical and ecological condition of the ponds, land employ, encroachments, drainage connections and access patterns before preparing a concept master plan.

"Limited tenders are approved for both emergency and time-bound works. Since these projects are being taken up under the centre's UCF funding, we have to send the proposal to the Administration of India as shortly as feasible to secure the funding without any delay, " a senior official remarked.

For now, chennai Corporation plans eco-restoration of two ponds in Vyasarpadi, floats tenders remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.