The Villivakkam vehicular subway, a much-awaited project in north Chennai after the Perambur flyover, will be commissioned in September, Union Minister of Textiles and Central Chennai Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran said here on Monday.
The project is being developed by the Southern Railway and the Chennai Corporation, at a cost of Rs.34.16 crore While the Southern Railway would complete its portion in September, the civic body would finish its work, including laying of the approach road on the southern side, by August, said Mr. Maran after reviewing the work. The hard rock soil condition and frequent caving in of earth in the area delayed the project. The conventional method of using iron girders to facilitate the construction of the subway, beneath the level-crossing and railway tracks, would be followed.
The vehicular subway would provide respite to residents of many neighbouring areas, including Kolathur and Villivakkam, from waiting for long hours at the level crossing, Mr.Maran added. The 447.50-metre-long subway would also have a bicycle lane 2.50 metre wide.
The soft soil condition proved to be a hurdle for executing projects of road overbridge at Perambur Locoworks and vehicular subway at MC Road. However, the ROB would be completed in September, he said.
Southern Railway officials, who accompanied the Union Minister, said that the Villivakkam subway project was started in June 2009 after the widening work of level-crossing 1 and shifting of drinking water pipeline and electricity cables.
Southern Railway Chief Administrative Officer R. Ramanathan said “We completed work underneath two railway tracks. The soil condition became harder when work was started under the third track. We did not want to take risk as the remaining four were important railway lines.” Five concrete boxes that are of 10.6 m length each would be installed. Iron girders of 1 m thickness would be used to support the construction, he said. Mayor M. Subramanian, Southern Railway General Manager Deepak Krishan and Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni were also present.
