Starting Monday, motorists will be able to use the second arm of the Rangarajapuram flyover.
The second arm of the flyover that will land in Subramania Nagar in Kodambakkam will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Chennai Corporation officials said that the Rs.23.75 crore ‘Y’-shaped facility would help reduce traffic congestion on the Doraisamy subway and consequently the Panagal Park area. The traffic to West Mambalam area will take the new arm. The congestion in Doraisamy subway is likely to be reduced after Monday. The new facility is likely to be of use in reducing congestion during the Deepavali season when commuters in T. Nagar have a tough time negotiating the traffic.
The work on the second arm of the Rangarajapuram flyover took almost another year after the completion of the first arm. The Southern Railway had completed its portion of the work in April after which, the civic body took up work to connect it. The first arm connects Bazullah Road in T. Nagar to Railway Border Road in Kodambakkam.
The first arm which is a one-way with entry from North Usman Road, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in September 2011. The work order for the construction of the 962-metre-long flyover was issued in January 2008.
Senior Corporation officials attributed the delay of the work to the slow progress of work above the tracks. “It is difficult to carry out work above the tracks when the trains are operated. The work could be carried out only during the night,” officials said.
Changes to existing traffic regulations, particularly on roads such as Station View Road on which one arm of the flyover lands from the North Usman Road side, are likely to be made shortly.
Hundreds of students of Meenakshi College and other nearby schools use the stretch. Residents stressed the need for traffic signals at junctions near the flyover to streamline traffic.
