To: All Political Parties The Tamilnadu Government is considering a proposal to construct a 7.5 km elevated expressway from Marina beach to Kottivakkam ECR cutting through 14 fishing villages in Chennai. This Expressway will only benefit the rich, car-owning community. It will have a terrible impact on fisherfolk, as many of them will lose their houses and livelihood. It will disturb the endangered Olive Ridley turtles thathave chosen to visit Chennai every year to lay eggs. It will forever mar the beauty of Chennai's famed beaches. At a time when open spaces are shrinking , any move to compromise one of chennai's most celebrated public spaces will be staunchly opposed not only residents but by all beach lovers. Worst of all, it will do nothing to make commuting easier for the millions of Chennai-ites who depend on public transport. The Rs. 1000 crores that is to be spent on this project may be better spent in improving the public transport system. Meanwhile, the traffic problem on the Santhome High Road,LB Road corridors can be solved by upgrading the roads near Foreshore Estate, linking Greenways Road to Durgabai Deshmukh Road, renovating the abandoned bridge near Thiruvika Bridge over the Adyar river, reclamation of the 4-lane carriageway on LB Road by making alternative arrangements for parking, and construction of a graded flyover at the entrance to the ECR near Thiruvanmiyur Depot. We request you to issue a press statement indicating your party's position on this matter. Beach lovers,and residents of Santhome, Mylapore, Besant Nagar, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur and ECR, who are opposed to the Expressway view this as a serious poll issue. Sincerely,