Who will bridge 2-year gap?

Chennai: Over the last two years cash-starved Chennai corporation and state highways has not taken up any major bridge work in Chennai, thanks to multiple factors and lack of state’s commitment to decongest the growing traffic issue of capital city.

At least four flyover proposals aimed to decongest Chennai are shelved and with civic polls and the poll code coming up the prospects of commissioning big infra projects remain bleak.

EGA-Chetpet junction, T Nagar bus terminal and Thiruvanmiyur junction are congested locations where corporation promised grade separator and flyovers a few years back, but all remain a non-starter. Further now with the absence of council, the budget will not have allocation for major projects due to its cash constraint, said an informed official with Ripon Buildings, the city corporation headquarters.

“The Vysarpadi road overbridge at Kalayanapuram is also progressing at snail’s pace and the traffic near Kolathur is a night mare during peak hours,” said S. Sabapathi, who frequents north Chennai for marketing LED TV sets.

The case with the state highways is even worse. State highways has been pickling its Chennai infra projects that started during the previous AIADMK regime. Porur junction, Madipakkam intersection, Kolathur – Rettaieri flyover and Pallavaram flyover are visible examples for the peak hour traffic.

When contacted, a senior government official he said that the ongoing metro rail work has affected the planning of new bridge work. Wherever there were possibilities of opening the new flyovers the projects were commissioned and thrown open for traffic like Vadapalani flyover and the grade separator connecting Anna Arch and Nelson Manickam road. “We are waiting for the completion of two massive projects in Chennai. The elevated corridor project connecting Chennai port – Maduravoyal and the metro rail corridor along Mount road and the Poonamalee high road”, the official said.

“Both politicians and officers do not suffer traffic bottle necks as they zip through in official cars with a beacon. You will understand the seriousness of traffic jam only if you are a driver or some one who travels in government bus. This is one of the reason for the flyover projects getting delayed in Chennai”, rues civic activist Aarani Sreenivasan of Central Chennai.