There would be reconstruction of bridges in prime places in the Chennai city
Posted on: 03/Dec/2018 10:07:45 AM
Chennai city and traffic congestions are inseparable these days. This traffic congestion has been making lives of many Chennai residents difficult. People of Chennai would be familiar with the Stephenson Road Bridge over Otteri Nullah. This bridge would be reconstructed as tied arch bridge by GCC or Greater Chennai Corporation. This GCC has now given the nod for the final feasibility report prepared by a consultant.
It is known that these days traffic from OMR or Old Mahabalipuram Road and ECR or East Coast Road over the popular Buckingham canal is heavy. It is now said that civic body is thinking about demolishing and reconstructing 6 bridges over Buckingham canal as this could ease the traffic flowing from OMR and ECR. At an amount of Rs 44 crores Stephenson Road Bridge work would be carried out. This bridge connects important areas such as Binny Mills, Dr. Ambedkar College Road and Pulianthope to Perambur and heavy traffic is present here. With the reconstruction of this bridge the commuters would be highly benefited and it would be a boon for them.
A senior official of GCC expressed his views in the reconstruction of bridges. He spoke about how the bridge along the Stephenson Road present in the low lying area causes an inundation along the road during heavy rainfall. He later added that the bridge which is presently at the same level as the road would be raised 2.4m above the HFL or highest flood level. Maximum discharge into the Nullah would be possible and the bridge columns would be able to handle this. It is important to note that the columns remain choked with the garbage that is thrown into the Nullah.
According to a resident belonging to Perambur, there is lot of water along the road during heavy rains and from the Jamalia school till the bridge it remains inundated. The resident later spoke about how during the 2015 floods in Chennai city it took three days for the water to reside in the place around Nullah. The sources have pointed out that old two- lane ridge would be replaced by four lane bridge with a cycle track and a footpath for the commuters.
The sources later revealed that in OMR 6 bridges in places like Venkatesapuram, Elango Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Pandian Nagar lie over the canal within a distance of 4.5km and heavy traffic is present. The existing bridges are not more than 2.5m in width and thee bridges would be replaced by 15m wide two-lane bridges with footpaths. This was according to the final feasibility report that was submitted last week. The encroachments along the approach roads running parallel to Buckingham canal leading to these bridges are also playing their part in the heavy traffic congestion. This was confirmed by an official.
As per the estimate submitted by a consultant it is clear that some of these bridges have heavy vehicle movement from 3000 vehicles to 12000 vehicles each day. During the peak hours of time there is heaviest traffic congestion. An official threw light on how despite the width of these approach roads leading to the bridges being over 7.5m, most parts remain encroached by the houses. It is now revealed that the entire project including acquisition of land and rehabilitation charges would cost around Rs 155 crores.
