Work on the widening of Kaliamman Koil Street — from Koyambedu junction to Virugambakkam market — has hit a roadblock. The work on the 4.5-km stretch began in June at a brisk pace; but now, the issue of land acquisition is holding it up. A stretch of this road, from the sewage treatment plant of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in Koyambedu to Chinmaya Nagar junction, a distance of around 500 metres, has been widened from 30 ft to 60 ft. On this stretch, a median is being constructed. According to Greater Chennai Corporation officials, more than 200 buildings on both sides of the road have to be acquired; most of them belong to commercial establishments. Negotiations are under way, say officials. They also point out that the bridge across the Virugambakkam–Arumbakkam canal on the road will be widened later this year at a cost of ? 3.5 crore. As a preliminary move, a study is being conducted to identify lanes off Kaliamman Koil Street through which traffic can be diverted to facilitate bridge-expansion work. Once the entire stretch is widened, pavements, stormwater drains, LED streetlights, traffic signals and speed-breakers will be provided.

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