The state highways department has proposed to construct an elevated corridor between the Lighthouse on Kamarajar Salai and Guindy on Grand Southern Trunk (GST) road to ease traffic. The stretch is used by more than 1 lakh vehicles daily and has several narrow intersections, making it susceptible to frequent traffic jams.
Initially, the highways department had proposed measures to decongest seven major junctions along
this stretch. As the move would involve acquisition of lands from private entities and central government agencies, the plan was changed, and the 10km elevated corridor was mooted.
Once implemented, motorists from Kotturpuram, Adyar, and Guindy can easily reach Madras high court, state secretariat and other key government offices along the Kamarajar Salai without delays. “A Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) will be prepared at `45 lakh,” said highways minister EV Velu, following which consultants would finalise the design.
Three alignments have been suggested by the engineers. Two of them propose construction of the elevated corridor above the existing city roads including , Santhome High Road or Loop Road, Greenways Road, and Sardar Patel Road, said Sengabavalli, a highway engineer. The third proposal is to build the flyover along the coastline and Adyar river bund via Kotturpuram. The government will have to take the final call on the alignment, she said.
Obtaining environmental clearances and acquiring land for the project will be a challenge, said sources in the highways department. A substantial amount of land needs to be acquired if the government is planning to go ahead with two of the three proposed alignments. This will escalate the project cost substantially.
The third option – to build by the sea – requires Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance and the
consent of the fishermen residing around Foreshore Estate and Nochikuppam, the sources added. The
public, too, are sceptical if the project would become a reality. “Similar projects were stalled in the past
following public outcry and protest, particularly from those residing near the beach,” pointed out R Meera, a resident-activist from Adyar.
Meera also fears the project will result in further loss of tree cover in the city. “Already Chennai Metro
Rail Limited (CMRL) is planning to cut down trees in these areas. Now, this project will cause further loss of green cover,” she said, adding that she would express her opposition at the public hearing.
A Veeraraghavan of Guindy feels the area is already reeling under the impact of ongoing CMRL works. “There is no need for another infra project in this corridor. It is already facing traffic snarls due to construction activities. Once CMRL completes its works and the roads are widened, the congestion will ease,” he said
