The road overbridge (ROB) on the Chennai Trunk Road at Thiruvanaikovil is unlikely to be opened in the first week of August as promised by the district authorities.
Although a major portion of the bridge structure has been constructed, the approach roads are yet to be built. In June, after an inspection of the progress of construction, Collector K. Rajamani had said that the ROB will be opened for traffic in the first week of August. However, there is still no sign of the approach roads being laid.
Construction of the ROB had long been delayed. The project was sanctioned by the government as early as 2011, but construction began only in 2016. Initially, the Highways Department had delayed commencement of the construction work as it had to await the completion of the ROB on Odathurai Road to allow diversion of traffic towards Chennai Bypass Road.
The old bridge on Chennai Trunk Road was subsequently demolished to make way for the new bridge. Extensive traffic diversions are in force in Srirangam over the past couple of years to facilitate the construction of the bridge. The ROB was scheduled to be completed by 2017. In June this year, Highways authorities had said that nearly 95% of works had been completed.
“The bridge structure has been completed and the railway portion of the bridge is also ready. But the land acquisition is yet to be completed and this is said to be causing the delay. Although funds have been allotted, the compensation is yet to be disbursed to persons whose lands are to be acquired. We request the Collector to give a push and complete the bridge at the earliest in view of the severe hardship faced by residents of Srirangam and Thiruvanaikovil,” said S. N. Mohan Ram, president, Srirangam Makkal Nala Sangam. Even the bus fare has been hiked citing the detour due to the traffic diversions, he claimed.
When contacted, Highways Divisional Engineer (Projects) Nagarajan maintained that some works were pending but parried questions on the delay and when the work is likely to be completed.
However, sources conceded that the Highways Department was yet to take possession of the lands that were to be acquired. The process of finalising the value of the land and disbursement of compensation to the property owners was yet to be completed, the sources indicated. Of the total project cost of ₹125 crore, ₹78 crore was allotted for land acquisition. The approach roads could be built only after land acquisition was over and utilities shifted.
