Residents of Pattabiram are up in arms against proposed traffic changes that are aimed at expediting a road overbridge (ROB) project. The ROB will replace the manned level crossing (LC No 2) in Pattabiram.
As per the new traffic plan, motorists heading towards Pattabiram have to take a ‘U’ turn at the police station and proceed towards Thirunindravur by climbing onto the existing road overbridge to reach Outer Ring Road (ORR), which connects to CTH Road, some 500 metres from the site of the ongoing bridge work.
However, while crossing the project site, motorists coming from Pattabiram will be allowed to use the existing route. According to Highways officials and the traffic police, the new traffic plan will ease traffic flow on the narrow and congested railway level crossing.
“The alternative route via Thirunindravur is long and unsafe especially at night as the roads in Thirunindravur are mostly sandy and narrow,” says T. Sadagopan, a long-time resident and president of Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre.
The State Highways had another alternative traffic plan, according to which motorists coming from Ambattur and Poonamallee have to take a ‘right’ turn at Hindu College in Pattabiram on CTH Road, around 500 metres before the police station.
Motorists have to use the Indian Air Force Road, maintained by the Defence Ministry to reach Thirunindravur on CTH Road via Ullapazhi Nagar and a manned railway level crossing. This route helps motorists bypass the work site without affecting the existing traffic flow on CTH Road. Residents say that roads in Pattabiram including IAF Road are well-maintained with street lights and reflectors. This route, residents and motorists say, will ensure safety of all road users including pedestrians till the bridge work is completed, expectedly by next year. State Highways officials say the alternative traffic plan of using IAF Road route was dropped after the Ministry of Defence demanded a monthly rent for using the road.
Paying rent will increase the overall cost of the bridge work and be a burden on the State’s exchequer. Therefore, the second alternative plan was chosen: Small streets in Thirunindravur will be used to divert the heavy vehicular flow on CTH Road.
“Once the concrete slab work gets under way at the bridge site, we need more space on CTH Road to do the work. This will affect the flow of incoming vehicles from Ambattur and Poonamallee at the railway level crossing,” says a State Highways official.
What is this project all about?
The proposal to construct a six-lane road overbridge (ROB) replacing the level crossing was approved by the State government around seven years ago at a cost of ₹ 30 crore.
Similar to other subways and bridges that replaced level crossings in other parts of the city, especially between Chennai Beach and Tambaram, the ROB that is being constructed to replace the level crossing at Pattabiram Military Siding Depot will be jointly built by the State Highways Department and the Southern Railway, which includes sharing of funds for the project. The track portion of the project will be done by the Southern Railway and the rest of the work, which includes establishing the connecting ramps on CTH Road, will be done by the State Highways.
Now, the movement of traffic is affected due to closure of the railway level crossing there. During emergencies, ambulances too have to wait at the level crossing as the de-tour will take an additional 10 kilometres via Thirunindravur.
