Mayor also proposes construction of six new grade separators; Rs. 104 crore earmarked for roads
In an effort to make the two flyovers on Usman Road in T. Nagar more viable, the Corporation is considering connecting them and extending the combined entity right up to Anna Salai. The civic body would remove their entry and exit ramps while retaining their central portions to connect them and form one single flyover.
If connecting the two flyovers is found to be not feasible, the civic body would consider extending the South Usman Road flyover alone up to Anna Salai, Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy announced at the budget meeting of the Chennai Corporation on Monday. The feasibility study, he said, would be conducted by consultants.
The proposal is part of a larger traffic management system being mooted by the civic body. Mr. Duraisamy said the Corporation would increase coordination of all departments with the traffic police. The flyover at the junction of North Usman Road-Kodambakkam High Road was constructed at a cost of Rs. 9.72 crore and the one at Usman Road-Duraisamy Road junction at a cost of Rs. 19.8 crore during the DMK regime to help reduce traffic congestion. However, the two flyovers only added to the woes of residents and shoppers. The one at the Usman Road-Duraisamy Road junction does not permit free movement of vehicles on service lanes. The Fire and Rescue Services Department too had complained that fire tenders could not gain access to Ranganathan Street, Natesan Street and Ramasamy Street. A few months ago, members of T. Nagar Welfare Associations had called for demolition of the Usman Road-Duraisamy Road flyover.
Several experts said that if the Corporation was planning to use prefabricated segments, extreme care must be taken during transportation and placement. “It has been possible in the Metro Rail project as the contractors have the expertise. If the Corporation is considering a similar option, it should make the clauses in the contract very tight,” said an urban planner.
The Mayor proposed to conduct feasibility studies for construction of grade separators at Adhithanar Salai, Pantheon Road and Dr. Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road junction; College Road, Sterling Road and Valluvar Kottam High Road Junction; Arcot Salai, Saligramam and K.K.Nagar 80 feet Road Junction; Mandaiveli Junction near Mandaiveli Bus Stand Junction; Bharathi Salai and Royapettah Clock Tower Junction; Gandhi Mandapam Salai and Ponniamman Koil Salai Junction at Kotturpuram.
For the year 2012-13, the Corporation has planned to construct a bridge across Otteri Nullah on Stephenson Road, a rail overbridge replacing a level crossing in Villivakkam, a pedestrian subway replacing a level crossing near Alandur AJS Nidhi School under deposit scheme by Southern Railway, and a vehicular bridge in place of an existing foot overbridge across Captain Cotton Canal on Ambedkar Road, Suzhpunalkarai. A total of Rs. 42.76 crore has been allocated for these works.
It has also revived the proposal for a road connecting Greenways Road with the northern end of Thiru Vi Ka Bridge at Durgabai Deshmukh Road via Music College along the Adyar river.
The civic body has allocated Rs.103.85 crore for restoration and maintenance of 324.42 km length of roads in the city and converting 56.94 km of interior roads into cement concrete stretches.
A total of Rs.404.53 crore would be spent on construction of stormwater drains and specially-designed drain inlets. Efforts would also be taken to install rainwater harvesting structures at the inlets, the Mayor said.
Soon, the corporation may plan a fly over over fly over for pedestrians!!! The kazhagam governments excel each other in wating public money without resorting to rudimentary pre-cautions and careful studies before deciding on a course of action. The service lanes on the sides of South Usman Road flyover is not usable by vehicles because of the spill over of pedestrrians as they are evicted from the walkways by the illegal hawkers who in turn can never be evicted in spite of a number of court cases and judgements. Meanwhile, let us waste some public money and pcoket the loot. Easing the traffic congestion! What in the hell are we talking about? It will be nothing short of a miracle if the Usman Road walkways are made walkable and the service lanes motorable. I am sure it is not going to happen in my life time.
It is pathetic to note the reality, that the "Welfare Associations had called for demolition of the Usman Road-Duraisamy Road flyover" few months ago. Is it not considered in the "Feasibility Report" prepared prepared before this was constructed OR taken feedback from the local community members? Really painful that there is no accountability in our British-laid systems and practices!!
I think the so called "experts" of traffic design/installation/commissioning have very little expertise and the full complement involved in traffic management - Police,Corporation,legislators are completely unaware of rudiments of traffic set up and management.In this merry go around of blind leading the lame, the mute citizens can only mutter and get along.This is the curse of india.Democracy has lead it into the hands of lowest common denominators.
It appears the only way to prevent pedestrian presence amidst motoring lanes in India is to elevate the roads with no walkable access! With a well-known disregard for any laws, engineering a design no law could otherwise enforce may be the only solution to solve this societal lack. Then again the resourcefulness with which one finds all behavioral norms being broken is a study in itself! All kidding aside, walkways, bicycle lanes, public transportation, and motorways each need fool-proof designs, with incentives built-in to obey the law no matter.
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