Thiruverkadu bridge needs another three months
It can be a few months before residents in Thiruverkadu can hope for the bridge construction across Cooum river, which is moving at snail’s pace, to be completed. The local people say that after they suffered severe hardship during last year’s December’s deluge and consequent floods they have been urging that the construction work be completed at the earliest.
migrator
Chennai
However, the State Highways officials said they could complete the work only by the end of August as there was a case in the High Court.
Sources said that the construction of the bridge between Thiruverkadu and Velappanchavadi junction started in 2011 under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme (Special Component Plan) and was abandoned after the SH department faced difficulties in acquiring lands. Sources added that the project which was originally estimated to cost Rs 3 crore was later ex
pected to require Rs.5 crore owing to land acquisition difficulties. Sathyamoorthy, Divisional Engineer, Thiruvallur district, told DTNext : “Though there is a case in the court in regard to land acquisition, it will be completed in the next 15 days, after which we will demolish some portion of the construction near Poonamallee High Road.” He maintained that other civil works were progressing and work on five spans had been completed. They would complete the
work by end of August.
The high level bridge with six spans was being constructed for a length of 90 metres and with a width of 7.5 metres, the engineer said. A footpath would also be constructed for a distance of three metres for
the convenience of pedestrians. The bridge across the river would have two lanes, he said.
Meanwhile, residents of Thiruverkadu complained that the officials had shown reluctance due to which they faced a lot of difficulties during the rainy season. R Chandrasekar, former government pleader, Madras High Court and resident of Thiruverkadu, observed: “In truth, Thiruverkadu area has been improving and its population is gradually on the rise. Now, there is a causeway where traffic is severely congested during the peak hours and commuters find it difficult to reach Velappanchavadi junction to catch buses on the Poonamallee High Road.”
He also recalled how the people were confined to their houses during the monsoon floods as water flow was very heavy in the Cooum river.
Timeline
- Work started in 2011
- Initial estimated cost of project Rs 3 crore
- Estimate revised to Rs.5 crore
- Work stalled in 2013 due to difficulty in acquiring land
- Case relating to land acquisition pending
- Officials assure that work will be completed by end of August
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