The Central government has permitted the National Highways Authority of India to hand over grade separators at Kathipara, Padi and Koyambedu and the 1.6-km long flyover opposite the Chennai Airport to the State Highways Department for maintenance. The Authority will also hand over pedestrian subways at Tambaram, Pallavaram and Alandur to the Highways Department.
“We have already written a letter to the State government asking them to take over the maintenance of these facilities. The NHAI only creates assets, we do not have a separate maintenance wing like the State Highways, which is why we are handing it over to them,” said a senior official of the NHAI.
The State Highways City Roads division will maintain the grade separators and the NHAI will pay for cleaning, maintenance and periodical renewal of the surface.
Though the NHAI has installed flood lights, many of them do not function properly posing a danger to motorists. “Every time I use the Kathipara flyover, it seems as if some power cut is on only my vehicle head lights guide me. ,” said H. Krishnan, a resident of Saligramam.
T. Gunaseelan, a resident of Ambattur, said no sign board has been installed to inform vehicle users about the speed breaker at Padi. “
Traffic Police said in 2009, there were four deaths on the Kathipara facility, one fatality in 2010 on the Koyambedu grade separator and one in 2011 in the Padi flyover. s
