Traffic on the elevated Chennai bypass that runs from Red Hills to Tambaram was disrupted for sometime on Tuesday morning near the Maduravoyal grade separator, after part of an approach ramp sank.
The ramp, on the loop that is used by motorists proceeding from Puzhal towards Poonnamallee, had sunk by a few inches causing vehicles to make a thundering noise at the spot.
“The earthen embankment and the reinforced concrete structure sank because the earth beneath it had settled. There was no danger to vehicles, which were proceeding as usual,” said I. G. Reddy, chief general manager (technical), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), who visited the spot.
“We have asked the concessionaire to take steps to restore the road. The spot will be opened and the gaps inside filled. It will take around 15 days to complete the work,” he added.
The NHAI manages the 32-km-long road, which connects four national highways — NH 205 (Chennai-Tirupati), NH 4 (Chennai-Bangalore), NH 5 (Chennai-Tada) and NH 45 (Chennai-Tiruchi). Around 3.75 lakh vehicles travel on the road every month.
Deputy police commissioner (traffic west) S. Panneerselvam, who inspected the spot, said that following a request from NHAI, traffic on that loop has been closed. “Vehicles proceeding from the Poonamallee side are being sent up to the toll plaza near Vanagaram where they take a U-turn,” he explained.
