An inordinate delay in starting the construction of a foot overbridge (FOB) with escalators in front of D.G. Vaishnav College on Poonamallee High (PH) Road, Arumbakkam, is causing a lot of inconvenience to pedestrians, especially students.
The FOB on P.H. Road, which is maintained by State Highways, is one of seven FOBs planned across the city. The locations of the other FOBs are: Sixth Avenue-School Road junction on Jawarharlal Nehru Main Road; Arumbakkam and Velachery Bypass Road near Chennai Metrowater filling station; near Madras Export Processing Zone; near Tambaram Taluk Government Hospital, Chromepet, Grand Southern Trunk Road; at TCS junction; and Perungudi Road junction on Taramani Link Road.
The project was initiated based on recommendations of a Chennai Comprehensive Transportation Study carried out by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and would be executed under World Bank-funded Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project-III. As per the plan, escalators would be provided on both sides of the FOBs and ramps would also be constructed.
Of the seven FOBs, the one at School Road Junction and two FOBs on GST Road have been functioning for a few years. However, the work on the planned FOB in front of D.G. Vaishnav College is yet to begin.
“As the stretch in front of the college is too narrow, pedestrians, including college students, find it risky to cross the road, especially during rush hour. Pedestrians dart across the stretch, much to the dismay of motorists,” said S. Venukumar, a resident of Anna Nagar.
At present, during rush hour, a traffic police personnel is deployed in front of the college.
This is however not helped matters. PH Road experiences a high movement of heavy vehicles, including container lorries and trailers from Sriperumbudur industrial belt.
Though heavy vehicles are not allowed between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. into the city, at night, heavy vehicles ply through PH Road.
An official from State Highways says, “The delay is due to the problems of land acquisition and arranging an alternative route, during the construction of the FOB. However, steps will be taken to start the work at the earliest.”
