Chennai Flyover Construction Gets Major Push During Pongal Break
The State Highways Department in Chennai is taking full advantage of the upcoming Pongal holidays. They plan to deploy 300 additional workers from West Bengal to accelerate construction on the Anna Salai flyover. Officials expect traffic to be thin during this festive period, creating an ideal window for intensive work.
Current Workforce and Planned Activities
Presently, about 350 workers are already engaged on the 3.2-kilometer flyover stretch that runs from Saidapet to Teynampet. The new batch of 300 workers will join them to carry out multiple tasks simultaneously. These tasks include bar bending, reinforcement work, erection of decks, and soil digging.
A highways official explained their strategy. "Since the stretch will have no traffic, we plan to bring in more decks through the day too," he said. This approach aims to maximize productivity during the holiday lull.
Progress on Pillars and Decks
The department has made significant headway with the flyover's structural elements. Out of the total 134 pillars required, workers have erected 65 so far. Most of these are on the Saidapet side. On these completed pillars, workers have placed one deck between every two pillars. Decks serve as the supporting structure for the road above.
"We have eight decks ready and plan to install them over the long weekend," the official stated. He added that concrete topping has already been completed on the single deck that is currently in place.
Challenges at Eldam's Road Junction
While 98% of the foundation work is finished, one area faces delays. Digging work at the Eldam's Road junction near Teynampet remains stuck due to traffic issues. "It's a busy junction and we are not getting permission to carry out digging yet," the official noted.
He contrasted this with other parts of the Teynampet-Nandanam stretch. Those sections were cleared only after shifting a 233kV Tangedco transmission line. Once permissions are secured, pillars will be erected at this junction promptly.
Deadlines and Sourcing
Though the official deadline for the project is in September, highways officials reveal they have been instructed to finish work by April. The decks for the flyover are being sourced from five different states across India. "Once the remaining pillars are erected, we will finish placing the decks," the official assured.
Resident Concerns and Safety
Local residents have expressed concerns about the ongoing construction. The flyover work has narrowed both sides of the road, causing inconvenience. In some parts, barricades are reportedly absent, raising safety issues.
M Panneerselvam, president of the Panagal Park Walkers Association, highlighted additional pressures. "The ongoing trade fair at Island Grounds has led to a surge in crowd here. They should speed up the work, not just for traffic, but to ensure safety of commuters," he said. Residents urge authorities to accelerate the pace for both traffic management and pedestrian safety.
