Connectivity between OMR and ECR, two important roads in south Chennai, is set to improve with the Highways getting the go-ahead for the alignment of a 1.4-km-long four-lane road.
The road that will take off from the Thoraipakkam–Pallavaram Radial Road junction on OMR is likely to pass through a portion of a government higher secondary school, private, vacant lands as well as land at Neelankarai.
A high-level steering committee of the State government, which met recently, has approved the alignment of the road that was initially proposed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).
“The CMDA had frozen approvals on this alignment, which means land owners could not get permissions for construction. In effect, land owners who had constructed before the freeze on construction came into force will get compensation for the building also. We are also planning to construct a bridge on the new road,” explained a source in the highways department.
The 30.5 metre-wide road will have service lanes, footpaths and stormwater drains.
The 11-km stretch extending from Thiruvanmiyur to Shollinganallur does not have any links between the two highways other than a few pedestrian bridges across the Buckingham Canal that runs between OMR and ECR.
C. Janakiraman, a resident of Perungudi, said most times he used Pandian Salai, a narrow road near Seevaram that runs up to Kottivakkam. “Apart from a bridge at Kandanchavady, the bridge on Pandian Salai is the only other link between ECR and OMR. It is in bad shape and just a mud road. During rains, it gets flooded. But we have no other option. Big vehicles cannot use the road,” he said.
The department also proposes to strengthen and widen two more roads, and construct bridges on them connecting ECR and OMR.
One bridge will take off from opposite MGR Salai or new Veeranam Salai (Lifeline Hospital junction) and go via Kamarajar Salai to reach ECR. The other bridge will come up just behind the Perungudi Industrial Estate and join ECR at Kajura Garden.
The widening would result in better connectivity for residents of ECR to areas including Tambaram, Pallikaranai and Velachery.
“To reach the airport I go via Thiruvanmiyur and Guindy or go via SRP Tools and take the Velachery Road. In the Guindy area, there is a lot of traffic congestion and as it is so unpredictable, I prefer not to take that route,” said Sultan Ismail, a resident of Palavakkam.
“It will be a big boon for a lot of residents on ECR if new roads come up. They will help ease traffic congestion at the Thiruvanmiyur and Akkarai junctions. A lot of vehicles would take the newly proposed roads between OMR and ECR,” he added.
This step would also help decongest OMR, which carries around 50,000 vehicles a day.
