Focus on ‘underbellies’ of flyovers

What verandahs are to sprawling bungalows, spaces-under-flyovers are to major roads. They catch the eye more than anything else, and help form an opinion of the rest of the house as well as the road. The spaces under flyovers in Chennai have often fared poorly, showcasing squalor more than beauty despite so-called beautification efforts. From time to time, residents have been witness to vertical gardens wilting and then progressively going from bad to worse, the containers going empty with the plants in them doing a Houdini-like disappearing act. Against this backdrop, it is heartening to note that Greater Chennai Corporation is taking a fresh look at these prominent spaces. GCC’s Special Projects Wing is set to revamp the underbellies of 10 flyovers into usable public spaces with parks, walking tracks and parking lots with EV charging facilities.