Kamal Ghorui
Chennai: Tambaram is set to get its own landmark. Corporation has allocated 8 crore to build a tower in a park along the Radial Road, aiming to give residents of the fast-growing suburban city a new public space to wind down.The tower will come up on a 2-acre Open Space Reservation (OSR) land along the Radial Road stretch in Zone 2 by the end of the year. Tambaram does not have any well-known public landmarks, unlike Chennai, which boasts Royapettah Clock Tower and Anna Nagar Tower Park.
Tambaram corporation commissioner S Balachander said the idea was inspired by similar spaces in cities such as Chennai and Coimbatore. “We wanted to build a place where people can relax, spend time with their families, and proudly refer to it as their own,” he said.“The landmark tower will be part of a park that includes recreational areas and a play space for children.Residents welcomed the idea but raised concerns about priorities. M Kumaravel, president of Bharathi Nagar Residents Welfare Association, said the project is a good step, but basic civic needs must not be ignored. “Issues such as underground drainage and water supply have been pending for more than 20 years. These issues should be addressed first,” he said.Urban planner T Shankar said, “The chosen location along Radial Road is about 10km from West Tambaram Market Road and nearly 16km from East Tambaram. Corporation has a population of 10.7 lakh. The civic body should carefully assess if the residents can reach the landmark easily,” he said.
