Indecisiveness over what to construct — a road overbridge or a subway — has led to a project in the western suburb being delayed by 10 years and also to considerable escalation in costs.
It was in 2006-07 that the State government gave administrative sanction for building a road overbridge to replace a railway level crossing (LC no.7) between Tirumullaivoyal and Annanur stations.
However, it was later decided that a subway should be built instead. However, technical studies said the area was prone to waterlogging and the government decided to revert to the original plan of building a road overbridge.
Highways Department officials said the estimated cost of the project, when it received administrative sanction, was Rs. 15.6 crore. It was proposed to be constructed with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development funding 80 per cent of the project cost and the State government bearing the rest.
Land awaited
Now, the bridge will be constructed entirely with the State government’s funds and by the Rural Roads division, Chengalpattu. They wanted a portion of land from the Ayapakkam project of Tamil Nadu Housing Board, and they were hopeful of acquiring it without any problem as it would be a transaction between two government agencies. Once they get a go-ahead from the government, they would float tenders for the bridge, officials said. Southern Railway had completed its share of the project.
It took 10 years to to decide whether to build a road overbridge
or a subway
