Proposed walkway along the river boasts of 12 components, including a butterfly park, wooden shelters, canopy, and solar lighting

The first nature trail within the city will come up along the Cooum in the 1.5 km stretch between the College Road bridge and the Munroe bridge in Chetpet.

The Chennai Corporation will start work on the nature trail, modelled on the San Antonio River Walk in the U.S., next month, said an official of the Chennai Corporation. The project is estimated to cost ₹9.82 crore and residents can walk on an elevated board to be developed. The elevation will be more than the maximum flood level of the river.

“The project has 12 components, including a butterfly park in a 5,000 sq.m area,” said an official. The salient features of the project include the board walk with a width of 1.6 metres for 1.5 km, a wooden shelter at two locations, a canopy, wooden chairs, an information kiosk, tree plantations along the stretch, a sump, water supply arrangements, electrical arrangements, signboards, solar lighting at 20 locations and the butterfly park.

The facility will have gates on Valluvar Kottam High Road and College Road.

According to the original proposal, entry to the nature trail was designed only on College Road. “We will talk to other line agencies to get parking facility on the DPI campus,” said an official.

“It is a much needed walkway. But pollution is a problem. People are putting all kinds of debris in the river. The water is also polluted,” says C. K.Devassy, a resident of College Road. Civic officials claim the stench along this stretch is minimal and hope Metrowater’s future plans to install sewage treatment plants will keep the river clean. Metrowater plans one sewage plant on Spur Tank Road, apart from 12 others upstream.

Inspiration from the U.S.

The draft ecological plan for the trail was prepared in 2011 after senior officials of the State government visited San Antonio during the previous DMK regime.

But the project failed to take off owing to the delay in finalising the location for the ramp of the Port-Maduravoyal Corridor near College Road.

Residents have been requesting the civic body to implement the project for the past few years. Many trees have already been cut, affecting biological diversity on the stretch, said residents.

“We will plant more indigenous tree species and restore biological diversity,” said an official. Officials said the project will be based on the ecological plan prepared by Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure and Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL).

Meetings with residents of the area will be held shortly.