The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon appoint a consultant to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the widening of the Tambaram-Tindivanam road (NH 45).
Traffic on the road has been increasing causing vehicles to slow down, especially in the urban stretches. Snarls are common at Perungalathur, Vandalur and Tambaram. “The bids for the consultant are being evaluated at the NHAI headquarters in Delhi. A consultant had prepared a DPR way back in 2008-09 but much has changed since then, and a fresh report is needed,” explained an official source in the NHAI.
The present contract for toll collection on the four-lane road, which began in 2005, will get over in November 2019. “We are looking to have an elevated corridor from Chengalpattu to Tambaram since a lot of construction by State highways department has happened along the road to close level crossings. It would be at the second level, above the other flyovers. The remaining stretch of the road would be widened into eight lanes,” the official explained. The road witnesses Passenger Car Units of over 70,000 per day, which is a mix of different kinds of vehicles. “Many of these are cars, trucks and buses are only second to personal vehicles. Any work on the road will begin only after the end of the contract,” the official said.
K. Suresh Kumar, Anna Nagar resident, who travels frequently on the GST Road to Trichy and beyond, said that traffic from Perungalathur to Chengalpet is terrible. “In the 1.5 km stretch in Guduvanchery there are four major junctions and vehicles just crawl along. You cannot drive fast till you cross Chengalpet. Then vehicles have to cross Singaperumal Koil and Mahindra City. If you get caught with the bus traffic entering the IT city, you are done for,” he said.
Residents along the GST Road and motorists like Mr. Suresh Kumar say that the NHAI should consider constructing the flyover even before the contract period gets over.
“Why should they wait till traffic worsens? Four lanes just don’t seem to be enough to carry this traffic,” said G. Murugan, a taxi driver.
