A consultative meeting organised on December 6 to explore the technical feasibility of the Radha Nagar subway project has ended in a deadlock.
The meeting, chaired by Pallavaram MLA P. Dhansingh, with the officials of the State Highways Department, was attended by members of Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavaram, Chromepet Traders Association, Municipal Small Shops Traders Association and Radha Nagar Traders Association.
B. Sekhar, Divisional Engineer, State Highways Department, said, “A vehicular subway cannot be constructed due to unavailability of land and other factors; only a pedestrian subway can be constructed and can be designed in such a way that two-wheeler traffic is possible.”
Following this, the residents and traders urged the officials of the Highways Department not to compromise on the original design, which was aimed at constructing a vehicular subway.
“We have to take a detour of four km through MIT Flyover, Rajendra Prasad Road, Nehru Nagar, Purushothaman Nagar and Gajalakshmi Nagar to reach Radha Nagar from GST Road. Moreover, R. P. Road is a 20-feet stretch, dotted with speed-breakers, that is considerably narrow. Only one vehicle can pass at a time,” residents and traders pointed out.
“Steps should be taken to construct a vehicular subway,” they added. As the stalemate continues, the residents and traders have decided to meet Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Minister for Highways and Minor Ports, Government of Tamil Nadu, in this regard.
P. Dhansingh said, “I will take up the issue with the Highways Minister and soon convene a meeting with the Minister, residents and the traders in this regard.”
