Chennai's Madhya Kailash L-Flyover Set for February Opening to Alleviate Traffic Congestion
Commuters navigating the bustling areas of Adyar, Guindy, and OMR in Chennai can soon expect significant relief from the persistent traffic woes at the Madhya Kailash junction. The much-anticipated L-shaped flyover is scheduled to be inaugurated in the first week of February, marking a crucial milestone in the city's infrastructure development.
Overcoming Construction Hurdles to Accelerate Project Completion
The State Highways Department has successfully addressed two major bottlenecks that had delayed the 60-crore flyover project for several months. Key achievements include the construction of the central girder at the Sardar Patel Road-OMR intersection and the development of an approach road on Sardar Patel Road. These critical steps have paved the way for the final stages of the project.
A highways engineer involved in the project detailed the ongoing work, stating, "We are currently applying wet-mix on the carriageway. Once this dries, we will proceed with the dense bituminous macadam, which serves as an open-graded bituminous layer essential for highway construction as a binder course." The official further confirmed that the corporation has initiated the installation of streetlights and painting works on the OMR side, with all efforts focused on meeting the early February deadline.
Addressing High Traffic Volume and Future Enhancements
The Madhya Kailash junction is a critical traffic point, witnessing approximately 11,000 commuters per hour. The highest volume of vehicles typically moves from Guindy to OMR, prompting the highways department to prioritize the construction of the L-flyover for this route. While the flyover is expected to significantly ease congestion at the junction, local residents have highlighted additional measures that could further improve traffic flow.
Residents, represented by D Balaji of the Kasturba Nagar Residents Welfare Association, have urged the Southern Railways and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to clear encroachments on the Buckingham Canal river bridge adjacent to Kasturba Nagar. "Vehicles from Sardar Patel Road currently take a left at the junction, waiting at the signal alongside those heading straight to Guindy. If encroachments are removed on this bridge, vehicles from Sardar Patel Road could be diverted through this stretch, providing a straight thoroughfare for those heading to Guindy," explained Balaji.
This collaborative approach between infrastructure projects and community input underscores the ongoing efforts to enhance Chennai's urban mobility and reduce commute times for thousands of daily travelers.
