Porur flyover opened; named after MGR

He named the flyover after AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, whose birth centenary is being celebrated this year. Moreover, it may be recalled that the former chief minister lived in Ramavaram, a few km down the same road in which the flyover is situated.  Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister blamed the DMK regime for the delay in the project. 

“The DMK government in 2010 started the project without procuring enough land and it caused lots of delay. However, after late chief minister J Jayalalithaa assumed power in 2011, all the procedural things like land acquisition and floating of tenders were accelerated,” he said and added that the flyover would reduce traffic congestion on the arterial road. 

During AIADMK regime, all the infrastructure works were completed within the stipulated time, he claimed. Even though the construction of the flyover began in 2010 when the DMK was in power, works were intermittently hampered due to various reasons like shifting of metro water pipeline and floating of tenders. 

The delay had caused immense inconvenience to motorists, as vehicles would always be seen piling up on the Mount Poonamallee High Road and Arcot Road. “It took 20 to 25 minutes to cross this intersection. The officials should have completed the work early. However, I am happy now, since the flyover is open,” said K Antony, a techie from Iyyappanthangal and a regular commuter.  

Officials in State Highways (Metro wing) said that the construction works were completed a fortnight ago and the flyover was ready to be inaugurated.  A few days ago, some motorists removed the barricades put up in front of the Porur flyover and forced open it to move past traffic congestion. However, police personnel closed it after a couple of hours.  

It may be noted that earlier too motorists forced open Vadapalani and Anna Arch flyovers some months ago, before the official inauguration.