Vandalur flyover could open by April '18

Chennai: The state highways department is working to complete the flyover at Vandalur, expected to decongest the chaotic stretch of GST Road, by April 2018.

In a city where the Porur flyover has been under construction for nearly eight years, and the one at Tirumangalam took as much time to complete, the claim that the Vandalur flyover will be finished in 24 months seems far fetched. But highways officials are unfazed, saying it will not require major land acquisition. “We need some land from the zoo but that won't be a problem,“ said a highways official.

Shifting underground utilities, including Metro water and power lines, began a month ago. It will be a simple flyover over the junction of GST Road and Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, segregating local traffic and that coming from the southern districts. “Our studies showed that more than one lakh PCUs (passenger car units) cross the junction every day. Of this, nearly 80% are vehicles coming from southern districts via GST Road,“ said an engineer working on the project. “The flyover will free up the road underneath for local residents,“ he added.

This is expected to come as a boon for people in the area as congestion can start as early as 6.30am. “Most factories and colleges open early .And those wanting to come to the city start early from Vandalur. As a result, by 7am, there is a traffic snarl at the junction,“ said Vandalur Residents Welfare Association assistant secretary N Natrajan.“My daughter's school is barely a kilometre away but it takes 20 minutes by bike. If there is an accident, the entire road comes to a standstill,“ he added.

The nearly 700m long, sixlane flyover, being built at an estimated '55 crore, will have a small roundtana in the centre but no turnings. “We have got administrative sanction of `60 crore but we will try to complete it for '5 crore less,“ said the engineer.

About 32 trees have been felled and officials have begun planting, as mandated, 500 saplings along OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road). “It will be completed in 3-4 days,“ said the engineer.

The government is also planning a massive 42km elevated corridor along GST Road, connecting Chengalpet and the airport. “The flyover at Vandalur will be the usual 5.5m in height and the elevated corridor will go above it,“ said the engineer. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has assigned a global consultant to study the feasibility of the elevated corridor.