Citizen Connect: Potholes welcome motorists at flyover in Pallavaram

The delay in completion of new flyover construction near Pallavaram and the related traffic chaos on GST Road is much talked about, while the old flyover on Old Trunk Road, which carries the traffic towards Tambaram, is being forgotten. The flyover has gathered sand, leading to the growth of bushes, and is also pothole-ridden.

As the construction of the new flyover is moving at a snail pace, Old Trunk Road is the temporary main lane for all vehicles proceeding towards Tambaram from the city. The vehicles take left on Parthiban Road and join Old Trunk Road before the road curves into the main GST Road near the Pallavaram busterminus.

Also, the subway on Dharga road, connecting West Pallavaram and GST Road, has been blocked owing to the uni-directional flyover work on the GST Road. Hence, the flyover from Old Trunk Road is the only way available to get across the railway tracks to reach West Pallavaram. But the flyover is becoming not motorable due to poor maintenance, complain residents of Pallavaram. 

“The flyover has gathered sand and it has not been cleared for months together, resulting in bushes and plants growing on either side. They have grown so big that motorists have to drive on the centre of the flyover. The flyover is not very wide and uncleared sand has made it much narrower. It is risky for vehicles as there is traffic flow from the opposite direction, too,” said J Durai, a private firm employee who regularly uses the flyover to reach office.

The problem is not just on the flyover, but where it meets the ground on both ends. “Big potholes welcome you when you reach the flyover. Repeated requests to relay the roads have fallen on deaf ears,” said Balaji S, another residentof the locality. 

While highway officials said that maintenance of the flyover falls under the local body, Pallavaram municipality officials were not available for their comment.