The Chennai Corporation will commence a feasibility study of five flyovers in various parts of the city shortly. The study of new flyovers and changes proposed to existing flyovers will be completed in six months. It will throw light on the plots of land likely to be taken over for the construction of the flyovers.
The civic body has entrusted the task of the study to two consultants. The first, Stup Consultants, will carry out a feasibility study of a package that covers three flyovers proposed on College Road, Sterling Road and Valluvar Kottam High Road Junction as well as Arcot Salai, Saligramam, K.K. Nagar 80 feet Road junction and Gandhi Mandapam Salai, Ponniamman Koil Salai junction in Kotturpuram.
Egis India will start a feasibility study of two flyovers proposed in Adhithanar Salai, Pantheon Road and Dr. Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road junction and Mandaiveli junction near Mandaiveli Bus Stand.
A study on the proposed flyover in Bharathi Salai and Royapettah Clock Tower junction will not be carried out, as the stretch has been used to divert traffic on Anna Salai because of the ongoing metro rail construction work.
The tender for the feasibility studies to make the two flyovers on Usman Road in T. Nagar more viable by connecting them or extending the combined entity right up to Anna Salai, has not been finalised yet. The Corporation is planning to remove their entry and exit ramps while retaining the central portions to connect them and form one single flyover. The civic body may also consider extending the South Usman Road flyover alone up to Anna Salai, Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy had announced at the budget meeting of the Corporation a few months ago. The civic body has called for a re-tender of the study.
The proposal is part of a larger traffic management system being mooted by the civic body. 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.
The flyover 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 expressed concern about the helplessness of fire tenders as they could not gain access to Ranganathan Street, Natesan Street and Ramasamy Street.
A few months ago, members of various residents welfare associations had called for the demolition of the Usman Road-Duraisamy Road flyover.
