A long-pending proposal for a 5.18-km-long elevated corridor on Poonamallee High Road has now been given a fresh lease of life. The highways department has fixed the alignment of the 4-lane corridor that will take off at Raja Muthiah Salai, near Ripon Buildings, and descend near Pulla Reddy Avenue in Shenoy Nagar.
The corridor will have several arms for vehicles to enter and exit. Motorists will be able to get on and off from Guruswamy Bridge, New Avadi Road, EVR Sampath Salai and Nair Bridge. Vehicles will be able to get off at Pulla Reddy Avenue, Harrington Road and get onto the corridor from Gandhi Irwin Bridge.
The corridor is considered essential for the road as the arterial stretch carries around 2.5 lakh vehicles every day. Sources in the department explained that two-wheelers constituted 60 per cent of the traffic with cars making up 30 per cent and buses and other heavy vehicles the remaining.
“Presently, the micro plan of the various roads running parallel and perpendicular to this arterial road is being prepared. After this, the alignment will be sent to the designs wing and the land plan schedule will be made ready,” explained an official source.
The alignment has been fixed such that the portals do not disturb the underground tunnels of Metro Rail.
At present, market rates for the cost of construction are estimated to be Rs. 450 crore and a similar amount will be required for land acquisition. The proposal still has a long way to go. After design approval and drawing up of estimate, it will have to get administrative sanction from the government for funds. It will have to complete land acquisition after which construction will take not less than three years.
S. Selvaraj of Perambur, who commutes to Poonamallee High Road for work, said that though the idea was good, the department must ensure that work is not delayed as it will affect traffic movement.
