A decision on the construction of a flyover on Arcot Road near Vadapalani bus stand has been postponed owing to the Monorail project.
Officials said that the feasibility study for the flyover was done without considering the impact of Monorail alignment between Poonamallee and Vadapalani. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of officials from the Chennai Corporation, Metropolitan Transport Corporation and Traffic Police on Saturday.
The 18-km-long Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch is one of the four corridors — the others are Vandalur to Velachery (23 km), Poonamallee to Kathipara Junction (16 km) and Vandalur to Puzhal (54 km) — that has been identified for the Monorail project.
“The Monorail project is expected to have an impact on the traffic flow in the area. If the flyover is constructed, the Monorail will have to go at a higher level. A revised traffic study will have to justify such modifications and the increase in cost. A letter will be sent to officials concerned to obtain the final alignment of the Monorail. The flyover will be constructed if the junctions require such a facility even after traffic comes down because of Monorail,” said an official of Chennai Corporation.
The Corporation was planning to begin the tendering process for the flyover in December. Now, the final decision on the flyover depends on the outcome of the Monorail project.
“The consultant has carried out traffic studies at all the junctions between Vadapalani bus stop and Megamart. But the officials of other agencies said that decisions cannot be taken based on such a study now. The new traffic study based on the impact of Monorail may consume more time. So the tendering process may not start as expected,” said the official.
The flyover at Arcot Road-K.K. Nagar 80 Feet Road junction was initially designed to extend over a stretch of 1.3 km, crossing three junctions of Arunachalam Road, 80 Feet Road and Reddy Street.
