The design for a flyover at the junction of Kaliamman Koil Street and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai has been approved.
Kaliamman Koil Street straddles the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) on the right and the Koyambedu fruit, vegetable and flower market on the right. The road also leads to Arcot Road, which is one of the city’s arterial stretches.
The flyover will be 1.09 km long and allow two-lane traffic on either side. It will stretch across the traffic signal on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai taking off near the State Election Commission, and landing on the other side of the ‘T’ junction.
In May this year when the project was approved, the State government allocated Rs. 40 crore for it. But that amount will most likely be revised now.
According to sources in the Highways Department, the design has taken into consideration buses proceeding CMBT in Koyambedu and also into Kaliamman Koil Street.
“Only 2,000 passenger car units use Kaliamman Koil Street, which is a small number for an arm climbing down into the road,” the official explained. The flyover will allow traffic flow from the Anna Nagar and Vadapalani sides, thus reducing traffic on the road below.
Two pedestrian subways will also come up as part of the project. These will be provided for those proceeding to CMBT and to Kaliamman Koil Street.
Once the flyover has been built, traffic flow at the junction will be changed. Those going from Kaliamman Koil Street to Tambaram will have to go towards Anna Nagar for about 100 mts and take a ‘U’ turn. Those proceeding from Anna Nagar to Kaliamman Koil Street will have to wait at a traffic signal.
K. Sridevi, a resident of Virugambakkam said that at present the junction was chaotic and messy. Vehicles from Kaliamman Koil Street have to wait for quite some time at the signal.
“We cannot go straight into Thiruveedhiamman Koil Street that leads to Poonamallee High Road. Taking that small lane lets us reduce at least 5 km. We hope that once this flyover comes up, vehicles will be allowed to take that road,” she said.
