Some of the flyovers in the city have not served their purpose for various reasons. At a few locations, they have resulted in the narrow service lanes getting further congested, say residents and transportation experts.
Residents say that while the flyovers on Peters Road have low patronage, the facilities on Usman Road have not helped ease traffic congestion in T. Nagar.
S. Ahmed, a resident of Royapettah, said the Peters Road flyovers were mainly used by two-wheelers. For four-wheelers, the narrow congested stretch from Ice House to the junction near the Government Royapettah Hospital is not one of the preferred routes. As a result, the flyover at the junction remains underutilised.
The other one connecting the stretch of Peters Road from near New College to Anna Salai does not serve the purpose owing to traffic regulations in the area. A right turn from Anna Salai into Peters Road is not allowed as part of the regulations. Motorists planning to take the flyover should instead take a ‘U' turn at the junction of Anna Salai-Whites Road and then a left in to Peters Road. This means more distance to be covered and more time, he said.
K.P. Subramanian, former professor, Urban Engineering Department, Anna University, said: “The flyovers on Usman Road have not helped ease the traffic flow. They have further reduced the road space below.”
The flyovers in Alwarpet and Adyar are also underutilised. “Direction of traffic flow has to be taken into account and a comprehensive area traffic management plan has to be evolved, as flyovers alone cannot be a solution,” he said.
However, traffic police officials said the increase in such facilities, including the one at Perambur and G.K. Moopanar flyover, Teynampet, had led to smooth traffic flow. Over 40,000 vehicles use the flyover over the intersection of Cenotaph Road-Chamiers Road daily during rush hour.
According to M. Ravi, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), flyovers provide additional road space as the available road length in the city is only 2,850 km.
“The two new grade separators proposed on Anna Salai by the Highways Department would be a boon,” Mr. Ravi added.
Mayor M. Subramanian said the Chennai Corporation was studying the problem of low patronage of the flyovers on Peters Road along with the police.
