Chennai's New 4-Lane Bridge Opens on OMR, Easing IT Corridor Traffic
In a significant development for Chennai's infrastructure, Chief Minister M K Stalin officially opened a new four-lane vehicular overbridge at Okkiyam Madavu on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) for public use on Wednesday. This crucial project, constructed by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) at an investment of 60 crore rupees, replaces a narrow crossing over the Okkiyam Madavu canal that had long been a major traffic bottleneck along the busy IT corridor.
Enhancing Traffic Flow and Flood Resilience
The newly inaugurated bridge is designed to carry through traffic on OMR, a stretch that experiences heavy daily movement of office-goers, buses, freight vehicles, and airport-bound traffic. According to CMRL officials, the expansion of the Okkiyam Madavu bridge was undertaken to improve flood resilience, waterway flow, and connectivity in the Pallikaranai marsh area. The existing bridge, with a restricted waterway of 90 meters and low vertical clearance, proved inadequate during the floods triggered by Cyclone Michaung in December 2023. The waterway has now been expanded from 90 meters to the full 205-meter width, with an additional 1.5 meters of vertical clearance.
Benefits for Commuters and the Environment
The bridge is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including cutting travel time, improving road safety, and reducing fuel wastage caused by stop-and-go traffic. It will help streamline access to nearby residential neighbourhoods and IT parks while easing pressure on adjoining internal roads. Officials emphasize that the project will play a key role in managing future traffic growth in the area, especially as metro expansion and new commercial developments come up on Rajiv Gandhi Salai. The canal below the bridge drains water from the Pallikaranai Marsh into the sea via the Buckingham Canal, highlighting the environmental considerations integrated into the design.
Additional Infrastructure Initiatives
During the same event, Chief Minister Stalin also laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Multimodal Transport and Commercial Complex at the Mandaveli bus terminus, with an estimated cost of about 167.09 crore rupees. This complex aims to integrate bus services while generating non-fare revenue, further enhancing Chennai's public transportation network. Together, these projects underscore the government's commitment to upgrading urban infrastructure to meet the growing demands of the city's residents and businesses.
