CHENNAI: Every motorist dreads getting stuck in a traffic clog up in the city. Cars, bikes and pedestrians for good measure, involved in a hypothetical tug-of-war trying to out manoeuvre each other for that little extra space, is a common sight.
But, if the Chennai Corporation’s ambitious plans to build an elevated corridor between the Ega theatre junction, on Poonamallee High Road and Thirumalai Pillai Road, near the Valluvar Kottam junction, is realised, then travel time between the two intersections will be drastically reduced, to approximately five minutes.
The proposal to construct a 2.7-km elevated corridor connecting the junctions, seeking to improve connectivity and decongest traffic along the city’s major arterial roads, also received unanimous public backing at a stakeholder’s meet on Monday.
The project planners, STUP Consultants Private Limited, while explaining the creative behind the plans, said that the corridor would serve to decongest traffic in six junctions namely Ega theatre, Chetpet, Sterling road, Nungambakkam High Road, Independence Day Park and Valluvar Kottam.
“Traffic numbers in all these junctions is currently over the 10,000 PCU (Passenger Car Units per hour)mark. This project therefore becomes essential accounting for the vehicle influx in the years to come by,” explained a STUP representative.
According to the plans, a trumpet flyover will come up near the Ega theatre junction that will eliminate the intersection of Chetpet-bound traffic with vehicles approaching Chennai Central as well as those approaching Koyambedu.
The Gurusamy Bridge, near the Chetpet Railway station, will be the convergence point for the flyover, with the elevated corridor taking flight right at the end of it. The Corporation will also construct a deck, running parallel to the Gurusamy Bridge, in order to facilitate two-way traffic from the elevated corridor, which at present is a one-way route.
From the Harrington Road junction up to the Nungambakkam High Road junction, the elevated corridor will be raised to a higher level, in order to facilitate the passage of the proposed Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated road underneath it.
“We will use girders that are similar to the ones used by Chennai Metro Rail, so that the space consumed by the pillars would be less, while allowing us to raise the height of the stretch at certain points,” said the STUP official.
Two other trumpet flyovers, at Sterling Road and Thirumalai Pillai Road, will also be commissioned to act as entry and exit ramps for vehicles to and from the corridor. Approach lanes to facilitate use of corridor for vehicular traffic will also come up on V R Ramanathan Road, Harrington Road, College Road, Nungambakkam High Road and Valluvar Kottam junction.
“This plan will greatly benefit Nungambakkam as it will become more posh,” said Pazhani, a Nungambakkam resident.
Some residents, who stood to lose area under the acquisition process, requested the Mayor to provide compensation in cash, instead of handing out Development Rights Certificates, under the Transfer of Development Rights Act.
“It will directly benefit us if we get cash rather than looking for a real estate buyer to purchase the TDR certificates fromus,” said a resident, who did not wish to be named.
Duraisamy also said that this plan will include the construction of pedestrian subways and expansion of link roads in the areas that fall under the corridor’s shadows, and that the Corporation would be handling it. “As there are many schools that fall under this corridor, we will look into constructing pedestrian subways to help facilitate safe movement for children and parents,” he said.