Residents and motorists are facing considerable hardship due to the delay in the construction of flyovers at various entry points to the city. Since 2016, construction works have been on at Pallavaram, Keelkattalai, Medavakkam and Velachery. However, the progress in these works was not optimal, as promised by government agencies when they started, residents said.
Dangerous stretch
S. Venkatesan, a resident of Gowrivakkam, says, “While navigation has become tough, the huge craters on the road make it dangerous to drive on the stretch near Medavakkam. For the last six months, there seems to be very little progress in the work, and the construction of the long flyover has been left midway many times since it started.” Motorists say that it would be better if authorities take steps to clean up the road space around the incomplete flyover before rains hit the city.
Similar views on the Pallavaram flyover were expressed by a taxi driver, A.R. Alagesan, who said that policemen diverted traffic from time to time. “Monday mornings are the worst since school and office-goers are in a hurry. By the time you reach the city, drivers and passengers get really frustrated,” he said.
With GST Road getting congested during morning rush hour, motorists suggest that the government buses alone should be allowed on GST Road beyond Indira Gandhi Road, while other vehicles should be diverted via Cattle Shandy Road, Parthiban Street and Veteran Lines to reach GST Road.
S. Kavya, an IT professional, said that the completion of twin flyovers at Velachery would ease bottle necks on 100 Feet Road, Velachery Main Road and Taramani Link Road. “The contractors/ officials should pull up their socks to complete the flyover quickly,” she said.
The projects are handled by different wings of State Highways Department and officials in charge said the projects could take six months to two years to be thrown open to the public. “We are closely monitoring the works and asking the contractors to complete the projects on time,” an official said.