One of the projects taken up by the DMK government under the Smart City Mission through the Greater Chennai Corporation in 2021, the Villivakkam Lake eco-park, featuring a glass suspension bridge built nearly five years ago, continues to remain closed to the public due to incomplete works, unresolved encroachments, and delays by the contractor.
According to officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the eco-park has missed several deadlines since 2021. While restoration work was taken up about a year ago, more than 100 encroachments around the lake have not yet been cleared, particularly along the northern stretch bordering CTH Road. These pending clearances have prevented the planned expansion of the lake from 27.5 acres to 36 acres. The civic body has also not completed essential infrastructure such as perimeter walls, fencing, and public toilets.
The amusement park component of the project, assigned to Kalyan Constructions, has seen little progress, with play equipment yet to be installed. GCC officials stated that although some basic works like footpaths have been completed, the absence of amusement facilities has contributed to the prolonged closure of the eco-park.
The Anna Nagar zonal officer said that the project initially faced delays due to cases before the National Green Tribunal. After those issues were resolved, residents living in encroached areas reportedly approached the High Court last year and obtained a stay against demolition, leading to further delays of several months. He added that senior ministers had recently inspected the lake and asked the contractor to expedite restoration work before April.
Officials indicated that, despite the unresolved encroachment issue, the corporation is considering opening the restored 27.5-acre portion of the lake to the public in the interim. The glass suspension bridge, they said, has been structurally vetted by the civil engineering department of IIT Madras and found to be stable. The GCC is planning to regulate access to the bridge by allowing 20 to 25 people at a time, with an entry fee yet to be finalised.
Villivakkam Lake, which once spanned about 214 acres, has shrunk drastically to around 39 acres over the past three decades due to widespread encroachments. The civic body has stated that efforts are under way to reclaim more area, expand the lake further, and establish a tertiary pond along with a water treatment plant as part of the broader restoration plan.
Source: Times of India
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