‘Chennai City’ Category

The Catholics of Broadway known as ‘Black Town’ were attending Mass at St. Mary’s Catghedral in George Town till 1843. As the local population increased, a small chapel was built in 1850 at Broadway. On 3rd December, 1865 a new Church in honour of St. Francis Xavier was constructed and consecrated In 1878 it was erected as a separate Parish. The First Parish Priest was Rev. Fr. D. Doyle. From 1878 to 1929 this parish was managed by Diocesan Priests.

From 1929 this parish was entrusted to the Salesians. After the Salesians took up this Parish, devotion to Mary Help of Christians was promoted. In 1953 the Parish Church was renovatged and consecrated by Rev. Fr. Orfeo Mantovani SDB. From then this Church was dedicated to Mary Help of Christians.

The feast of Mary Help of Christians is celebrated on 24th May. On 8th September 2005 the present Archbishop His Grace Most Rev. Dr. A.M. Chinnappa SDB DD Ph.D issued a decree elevating this Parish as a Shrine of Mary Help of Christians of the Archdiocese.

St. Francis Xavier’s Church
38, Broadway,
Chennai – 600 108.

- This informations were complied from the Directory 2005 of Archdiocese of Madras – Mylapore.

This Parish was bifurcated from Ennore and established as a Parish in 1980. This Parish was earlier maintained by the Salesians.

Sagaya Matha Church
50, Bharathiyar Nagar
Ennore Beach Road
Ennore Post., Chennai – 600 057

- This informations were complied from the Directory 2005 of Archdiocese of Madras – Mylapore.

In 1971, this Church was a substation of St. Louis Church, Adyar. Fr. P.T. Arulappa, the then Parish Priest, St. Louis Church, Adyar and a great Missionary started Our Lady of Vailankanni Church under trying conditions. The Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, Most Rev. Dr. R. Arulappa, erected it as a separate Parish in 1973. The imposing 97 feet belfry was declared open by the then Chief Minister, Dr. M. Karunanidhi on 27th August 1972.

On 15th August 1985 a bigger Church was blessed and consecrated by Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. R. Arulappa. By the efforts of Rev. Fr. P.J. Lawrence Raj, several extensions and renovations were made to this Shrine. A beautiful community hall, stalls Museum and class room blocks were constructed in May 2000, nearly 8 grounds were purchased and a beautiful stage was erected and dedicated to Jubilee 2000. In 2001 a small Chapel for the blessed Sacrament was built. In 2002 grotto depicting the miracles of Our Lady of Good Health was created. In 2003 Mother Mary’s Square and Reconciliation Chapel was constructed.

From 2000 to 2003, 3 grounds were purchased in which the new Convent building stands. On 8th September 2005 this Church was decreed as a Shrine of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore by the Most Rev. Dr. A.M. Chinnappa SDB, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore.

Annai Velankanni Shrine
Elliot’s Beach Road,
Besant Nagar, Chennai – 600 020
Phone 044 2491 1246 / 2446 6923
http://www.vailankannishrinechennai.org

- This informations were complied from the Directory 2005 of Archdiocese of Madras – Mylapore.

Basin Bridge was erected in 1954 and dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. The first Parish Priest is Fr. Ignatius Rubio. Most of the members of this Church are economically backward. The Parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2004.

Mary Help of Christians Church
108, D’Castor Road,
Pulianthope, Basin Bridge
Chennai – 600 012
Parish Phone: 044 2667 1060 / 2667 0041
Res phone: 2667 3821 / 2667 1280

- This informations were complied from the Directory 2005 of Archdiocese of Madras – Mylapore.

The Madras High Court on Friday said that its interim order of November this year staying until further orders the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to shift the Anna Centenary Library from Kotturpuram here amounted to forbearing the State from proceeding to make any construction for shifting the facility. It also said the present library should function as it is without any sort of interference.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice M.Y.Eqbal and Justice T.S.Sivagnanam was passing orders on a batch of writ petitions. When the matter came up, no counter affidavit was filed. Advocate-General A.Navaneethakrishnan produced a letter of the Additional Chief Secretary requesting a short adjournment for filing counter. The court allowed the prayer.

The AG sought adjournment after Pongal holidays. The Bench ordered that the case be listed on January 19, 2012.

The Bench said that in its order on November 4 it had stayed the government’s decision to shift the library. “Let it be made clear that this interim direction amounts to forbearing the State from proceeding to make any construction for the purpose of shifting the library. The present library shall function as it is without any sort of interference.”

In a public interest litigation petition, Kavignar Ilayabharathi of Mylapore detailed the salient features of the library. The library was a world class facility with various unique features and was student-friendly. The present building was constructed only for a library. Hence, any attempt to convert it for any other purpose would defeat the actual objective. When the building was constructed specifically for a library after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, it could not be put to any other use.

He sought to declare the State government’s decision to shift the library and convert the present building into a hospital as null and void.

The petitioner’s counsel, P.Wilson, said after the government’s decision to shift the library from Kotturpuram to the DPI campus at Nungambakkam, there were restrictions for the public to have access to the library. Periodicals and journals were not being acquired.

By another petition, R.Gandhi, senior advocate of Adyar here, sought to forbear the authorities from shifting the library from Kotturpuram to any other place.

Source – The Hindu

A monorail cell has also started functioning from within the MTC’s headquarters on Anna Salai.

The monorail system is proposed to constitute a network of four elevated corridors – Vandalur to Puzhal via Avadi (54 km); Vandalur to Velachery via Tambaram East (23 km); Poonamallee to Kathipara via Porur (18 km); and Poonamallee to Vadapalani via Valasarawakkam (16 km).

The list of global consortiums in the fray and eligible to participate in the bidding process for developing the city’s monorail network will be announced next week.

Speaking on the sidelines of a review of monorail and metro rail projects undertaken by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa here on Saturday, a senior official of the State government said that three consortiums are likely to be shortlisted.

Technical criteria

The criteria fixed for demonstrating technical capacity to qualify for the project were – the consortium should have been awarded an urban rail project on DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer) basis with a minimum route length of 37 km within the last three fiscal and a shareholder net worth of Rs.500 crore.

The official said that since “experience in an urban rail project is sufficient,” the consortiums need not be necessarily operating an existing monorail system.

Financial bidding

The ‘qualified’ applicants would enter a round of financial bidding.

A two month period would be given to prepare a Detailed Project Report on the implementation of a monorail system along four elevated corridors, totalling 111-km, which has already been identified by the government.

The entity that quotes the lowest user fare structure and expects the least amount of concessions from the State government is expected to be nominated as the ‘monorail operator’.

The Request For Quotation (RFQ) floated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation, which is the nodal agency for the implementation of the Chennai Monorail project, says that a comparatively short time span would be provided for submission of the bids.

Source:  The Hindu

As a part of Chennai Metro Rail Project work at High Court Station, the South bound traffic from Broadway Signal to Raja Annamalai Mandram on Esplanade Road will be closed from 27.11.2011. The North bound traffic from Raja Annamalai Mandram to Broadway Junction on Esplanade Road will ply as usual.

The commuters from Prakasam Salai intend to go to Anna Salai or Adyar shall take left in the NSC Bose Road via Parrys Corner, RBI Sub-way to reach their destination.

The commuters from Prakasam Salai intend to go to EVR Salai/Central Railway Station shall take right in NSC Bose Road, via C1 Flower Bazaar Police Station, MMC Point to reach the destination. There is no change in the NSC Bose Road traffic.

The arrangement will be in force till the completion of station works.

- CHENNAI TRAFFIC POLICE

The CMRL is going to execute the underground station work at 3 places from Thirumangalam to Chintamani on 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar. Due to this work the movement of traffic on II Avenue, 100 feet road and Shanthi Colony will be changed from 15.12.2011.

1) The 13th Main Road Anna Nagar will be made one way for the entire stretch from 18th Main Road upto II Avenue with entry from 18th Main Road and no entry from II Avenue.

2) The 100 feet road will be made one way from II Avenue up to 18th Main Road junction with entry from II Avenue and no entry from 18th Main Road.

3) The vehicles coming from Padi fly over towards Koyambedu will take left into Anna Nagar 18th Main Road and join 13th Main Road and turn right onto 2nd Avenue and take left towards 100 feet Road to reach Koyambedu.

4) The vehicles coming from Koyambedu intending to go towards Anna Nagar Roundabout will pass through Thirumangalam junction, take right at VI Avenue and again right onto 13th Main road turn left at II Avenue to reach their destination or they can turn into Shanthi Colony IV Avenue to reach Anna Nagar Roundanna.

5) Motorists intending to go to SBOA School from 18th Main Road should take 13th Main Road and 17th Main Road to reach 100 feet Road to their destination.

6) Motorists from Mogappair intending to go to Koyambedu and Anna Nagar should take left on 100 feet Road and go via VI Avenue and 13th Main Road to reach II Avenue turn right towards Koyambedu or left towards Anna Nagar round about.

7) The route from Koyambedu to Padi remains unaltered.

Motorists coming from SBOA School intending to go to Anna Nagar will take left to 100 feet Road via 18th Main Road, 13th Main Road to reach II Avenue turn right towards Koyambedu or left towards Anna Nagar round about.

9) The stretch in between Chintamani up to Anna Nagar roundabout will be made as one way with entry from Chintamani and No entry from 3rd Avenue.

10) The stretch in between Anna Nagar roundabout up to Thirumangalam will be made one way with entry from Thirumangalam and No entry from III Avenue.

11) Motorists coming from Chintamani along II Avenue intending to go to Thirumangalam, will turn left onto III Avenue and take right into Shanthi colony to reach their destination.

12) Vehicles from Anna arch intending to go to K-4 P.S. Roundana will take the route via Shanthi colony, V Avenue (Blue Star), right onto II Avenue to reach their destination.

13) The stretch in between Shanthi colony and Blue star (V Avenue) will be made one way with entry from Shanthi colony and No entry from II Avenue.

14) 3rd main road between Shanthi colony and II Avenue will be made one way towards II Avenue.

15) 6th Main road between Ayappan temple and Shanthi colony will be made one way towards Shanthi Colony.

16) The Shanthi colony stretch between III Avenue up to V Avenue Junction will be made one way with entry from III Avenue.

17) Two-way traffic will be allowed on the Shanthi colony stretch in between V Avenue up to 100 feet road.

18) The existing 3 MTC bus stops located at Anna Nagar roundana, Blue Star and 12th Main road on II Avenue towards Thirumangalam, will be shifted to the parallel road IV Avenue (Shanthi colony) in front of 3rd main road, V Avenue and 12th main road respectively.

- CHENNAI TRAFFIC POLICE

Sri Nagathamman Temple, Arunodhayam Nagar, Nanmangalam, Chennai

One-stop go at Gemini soon
Dedicated Lanes & Simultaneous Movement Of Vehicles On Anna Flyover To Enable Free Flow Of Traffic.

Waiting time under Anna flyover at the Gemini junction may soon reduce with the highways department planning to redirect the flow of traffic, remove the roundabout, and create more lanes. The department sent a cost estimate to the transport secretary for approval on Monday.

More than 20,000 cars use the Anna Salai-Nungambakkam High Road junction at Gemini every hour during peak traffic. The highways department has approved a proposal from a non-governmental organisation Chennai City Connect to change the flow of traffic and replace the ro u n d ab o u t with eight traffic islands.

The plan is to dedicate separate lanes for vehicles taking a right from Cathedral Road towards Thousand Lights on Anna Salai and for those turning right from Nungambakkam High Road onto Anna Salai towards Teynampet. The movement of vehicles in both these directions will be at the same time.

“The traffic density is the highest in these directions,” said Mark Selvaraj, technical director of Landtech Engineers Pvt Ltd, consultants for the project. “This will reduce the pile-up of vehicles at the junction,” he said.

The current six signal phases will be reduced to three. The roundabout will be removed to make space for more lanes. Instead, eight traffic islands will be created and the horse statue will have to be relocated. The traffic islands will segregate vehicles moving in different directions. “They will also act as a refuge for pedestrians trying to cross the road,” said Selvaraj.

Currently, all traffic going from Nungambakkam to Teynampet, Cathedral Road to Thousand Lights and beachbound traffic from G N Chetty Road have to wait at two signals before they can leave the intersection. “Not only do traffic police require more manpower but the signals also make vehicles wait longer,” said Selvaraj.

According to the highways department, the project cost is estimated to be around 90 lakh. “The changes have been welcomed by the traffic police and our engineers. The budget is not a problem and we expect approval from state government soon,” said a senior highway official. “The transport minister did express his concern over the loss of aesthetic value,” he said.

Selvaraj said the changes have been designed on a shortterm basis with quick benefits. “The islands can be beautified according to international standards and the changes can be implemented in three weeks,” he said.

PROPOSED SYSTEM

Phase 1 | The right turn | Vehicles taking a right from Nungambakkam High Road to Teynampet and from Cathedral Road to Thousand Lights will move at the same time. By allowing vehicles in these two directions to flow simultaneously, backlog of vehicles is reduced to a great extent

Phase 2 | Straight forward | Vehicles from Nungambakkam High Road to Cathedral Road and vice versa will move simultaneously

Phase 3 | G N Chetty Rd and ahead | Vehicles going from G N Chetty Road to Thousand Lights and Cathedral Road will travel at the same time

Source – Times Of India