Slow flyover work irks motorists

Chennai: The two-arm flyover coming up at congested Velachery bus terminus junction is progressing at snail pace and has been adding to the woes of local traders and motorists plying towards Tambaram and Taramani.

The much-awaited Rs 100 crore project taken up by the state highways is yet cross the half way mark and when DC visited the junction traders vented out their anger against the authorities for taking up the bridge works at slow pace.

The work began in 2016 and is scheduled for completion by 2019. The two arms of the flyover will connect Velachery bypass with Taramani on one stretch and Tambaram on the other stretch.

V. Raja, a rice retailer and a resident of the area, said sales have dropped, as people cannot come to his shop to buy rice. There is no place for customers to park the vehicle and this has resulted in loss of customers and wanted the state highways department to complete the project at the earliest.

Avinash. E, who runs a restaurant along the stretch, said it is difficult for his customers to find a place to park their vehicles. Two wheelers can manage, but four wheelers cannot park along the stretch and the peak hour traffic goes haywire on a daily basis.

A medical shop owner along the stretch complained that his business has been down by 80 per cent.

When DC contacted project officials, they said that since the PWD department has just completed the drain works, the highway department would start work on the service road, which will be constructed to ease out the situation for the traders as well as that of the residents of the area. The site officials exuded confidence that the project will be speeded up and completed ahead of the project deadline.