The limited-use subway being constructed alongside the road over-bridge that is being reconstructed at Periyar Nagar on Thiruvanaikovil Trunk Road is likely to be opened soon. The subway is expected to ready for opening by the first week of September.
The Highways Department in association with the railways have taken up the construction of the subway first to ease the traffic congestion caused by the road over bridge, which has since been demolished to make way for a new road over-bridge.
While the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited is executing the project on the railway portion of the ROB, the State Highways Department would provide approach roads on both the bridge and the subway.
Traffic diversions were enforced in view of the reconstruction of the bridge since the first week of July. The police had said that the diversions would be in force for seven weeks until the subway was constructed. The subway was expected to be opened by August 15.
“Our work on the subway structure has almost been completed except for some cleaning and painting. A few more days are required for the work to be completed on the railway portion. The subway would be ready by September 5,” sources in the Highways Department told The Hindu .
Two wheelers, light vehicles and buses would be allowed to go via the subway and this is expected to considerably ease the traffic congestion caused in other parts of the Srirangam since the closure of the old bridge. However, heavy vehicles such as lorries would not be allowed to use the subway.
Once the subway is completed, the district authorities are expected to take a call on the date of its opening for traffic.
The new four-lane ROB project was sanctioned a few years back at an estimate of Rs.47 crore. Srirangam residents have been pressing for the early completion of the project and a section of the residents have also been demanding that a piece of land held by a private Hindu religious organisation be acquired to provide a straight approach road to the subway.
