As construction for phase-2 metro rail network is set to begin in several localities soon, teams of experts have started conducting a survey of buildings and structures located on some of the city’s busiest localities.
Officials said teams are out surveying and taking note of buildings in and around Koyambedu , Virugambakkam and Vadapalani while construction sites on OMR and some southern suburban localities least connected by public transport are getting prepared for construction as surveys are completed. The 118.9km phase-2 is expected to be ready by 2025.
“Building survey was completed in areas in and around Taramani, Sholinganallur and Perumbakkam last month. Survey on Koyambedu market road is also completed. These areas are now being prepared for construction,” said an official at a metrorail construction site. “Three teams are working on the field to conduct the surveys in various locations of phase-2 project,” the official added.
Officials said during a building survey, which is usually done before the start of the construction, involves taking a count of all types of buildings and structures along the construction route, age of these structures and their stability. Teams also measure the distance between the construction site, which is mostly on the centre of the road, and the buildings on either side of the road.
“The distance between the centre of the road to a building on the side should be a minimum of 20 feet. If it is less, it may have to be demolished,” the official said.
R Ramanathan, former CMRL director said depending on the soil condition and the vibration that may occur during construction, the buildings along the construction route are surveyed under three categories — those that have to be demolished due to poor structural stability, those that may survive through the construction period but may suffer cracks and hence people need to be vacated temporarily and those that have good foundation and can withstand the vibration during construction. “In phase-1, a church in north Chennai developed cracks on the walls because it had no foundation. So, such surveys, though a routine, is important,” he said.
CMRL officials earlier said that the front portion of some of the buildings on Kaliamman Koil Street junction, which links Anna Nagar and CMBT, may have to be demolished to make way for an elevated line as the road is narrow. “It is also one of the busiest roads with heavy traffic and is going to be a challenge for us to manage traffic movement during construction,” an official said.