Construction of a flyover at the busy Porur junction will begin in a fortnight with the State Highways Department on Wednesday issuing the work order for the Rs.34.72-crore facility.
Officials of the department said the contract has been awarded to Siva Engineering, an Erode-based firm. Work on flyover, which would be 550 to 600 metres long, is expected to be completed by March next year.
The facility would come as a big relief to the residents of fast developing areas around Porur and Poonamallee. The heavy traffic flow at the Porur junction, especially from Arcot Road and Mount Poonamallee Road, often results in a pile-up. During rush hour, the wait for motorists to pass through the junction could be as much as an hour. The traffic volume at the junction is estimated to be nearly one lakh passenger car units.
M.Vasu, a resident of Kundrathur, said that with the rapid pace of development along this stretch, up to Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur, the road and transport facilities for those who have to travel to and from the city everyday are not adequate.
Two more flyovers
The Highways Department has also initiated measures to construct flyovers at two more busy junctions - Thirumangalam in Anna Nagar and Moolakadai, near Madhavaram, at a cost of Rs.107 crore.
An official said detailed project reports for the facilities are being prepared. While bids from contractors for the facility at the Moolakadai junction would be called by this month end, the tendering process for the other flyover would begin in April.
The traffic load is estimated at 1.5 to 2 lakh passenger car units at each of the junctions. The flyover at Thirumangalam junction has been designed in such a manner so as to use minimum road space. The project would be completed in June next year.
S.Bhaskar, a resident of Anna Nagar, said for motorists to cross the junction, which links Inner Ring Road and Second Avenue, Anna Nagar, during rush hour takes over 30 minutes. The junction, which is also used by hundreds of vehicles transporting students of neighbouring schools, presents a picture of chaos during morning hours. The heavy vehicles from Red Hills also add to the volume of the traffic.
With the flyover and the Koyambedu grade separator, the traffic on the Inner Ring Road is expected to reduce significantly and travel time would be less, he said.
For residents of north Chennai, the flyover on GNT Road at Moolakadai junction would come as a boon. J.Ravi, a resident of Madhavaram, said traffic often gets blocked on the road from Erukancheri to Moolakadai. Many motorists have to endure the pile up of vehicles at the junction as it is the only route to Madhavaram from Vyasarpadi, he said.
