[strmini]

Officials of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) held an urgent meeting with firms involved in the construction of the metro rail to ensure that the ongoing metro rail work does not weaken the structural stability of any heritage structures in the city.

The initiative was taken by the CMDA in the backdrop of the Kalas Mahal mishap. Architects of the firms were asked to explain their construction plans through powerpoint presentations, with CMDA officials suggested modifications where needed.

The firms were asked to explain the measures that they would take to ensure the work does not weaken the heritage structure while construction is on.

“Few modifications have been suggested to firms to which they agreed,” sources in CMDA said.

“As part of an ongoing process to preserve the heritage structures in Chennai metropolitan area, we have also taken steps to protect the heritage structures that dot the proposed three metro rail corridors from being affected during the work,” the sources.

“We held discussions with firms — Gammon India, L&T and Soma — that have been carrying out construction work for metro rail,” the sources said on Thursday after the heritage sub-committee meeting that was held with the architects of the firms involved in developing metro rail corridors.

There are chances of heritage structures, which fall along the alignment of the metro rail corridor, getting affected by the ongoing work. St.

Andrews Church, Victoria Hall, heritage structures on Poonamallee High Road, the LIC building, the Bharat Insurance building on Anna Salai, where underground stations will come up, could experience vibrations during tunnelling, sources said.

The firms will have to attend a meeting next week with the members of Heritage Conservation Committee constituted by the state government to assist CMDA in the conservation of heritage structures.

-dc chn