Flyovers sanctioned at Nandanam and Alwarpet junctions to ease traffic

Though the proposals for flyovers at these two critical traffic junctions on the ever-busy Anna Salai were around for more than a decade, the idea was reinforced in 2010, in a report titled Chennai Comprehensive Transportation Study by Wilbur Smith Associates, commissioned by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). 

One of the key suggestions included the installation of flyovers at traffic intersections, to ease the traffic load. 

The report clearly pointed out, “Many intersections cannot be managed by merely improving the geometrics and rationalising signals and hence requires a higher order treatment like subways or flyovers, for better management of traffic.” 

The flyovers will soon be a reality as a high-power project sanctioning committee had shown the green signal for the commencement of this project. 

“Based on the suggestions of the report, these two flyovers at junctions in Anna Salai is being taken up. People can go uninterrupted after these flyovers are in place.  

The flyover at Nandanam connecting Thyagaraya Road and Eldam’s Road will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 155 crores while the other one will connect Venkatanarayana Road to Chamier’s Road at Rs 70 crore,” a senior Corporation official said. 

Experts pointed out that such capital-intensive projects should be taken up, after carefully studying diverse factors. Gitakrishnan Ramadurai, Associate Professor, Transportation Engineering Division at IIT-M, said, “Flyovers are ideal for junctions where there are lots of accidents or if there are more than 10,000 passenger car units per hour or if there are excessive delays.” 

While Corporation has been pushing for non-motorised transport usage, projects such as flyovers and road-widening works only promote vehicular usage.