Tamil Nadu: Deadline missed, Pallavaram separator needs 8 months more

CHENNAI: It has been almost a year since the deadline for the grade separator being constructed at Pallavaram ended, but official say another eight months are required to complete work.
Delay in work means commuters on the busy stretch of GST Road that leads to the airport and beyond will have to endure the peak-hour crawl, especially when approaching the separator.
The grade separator, that would run a length of 1.5km on GST Road, begins near the Hindustan Petroleum bunk and ends near First Cross Street at Pallavaram. While all 48 pillars have been built, the two ramps are under construction, narrowing GST Road and causing traffic congestion. Of the 45 slabs to be laid, seven are pending. Apart from that, parapet walls, lighting and other road beautification has to be carried out. The project estimated at 68.85cr began in September 2015.
"It was mainly proposed to clear congestion at Thanthai Road junction, Pallavaram Shanty Road and Kundrathur Road junction. But permissions to shift electricity poles from these junctions are taking as long as six months. And every time a VIP passes through GST Road, work gets stalled for a day. And one of the major hindrances were the permissions for traffic diversions that are delayed," said a highways department official. "We will complete work by December," he said.
However, residents such as Venkateswara M who lives by the road, dust from the site, traffic jams and pavement blocks continue to bother residents. "They do not use nets to block dust and all roadside eateries are suffering due to this," he said. Vignesh M, a regular commuter on the road, said he witnesses several minor two-wheeler accidents every month due to the delayed construction work.
V Santhanam, Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations in Pallavaram, said the project cost had escalated to 82cr due to the delay. "We have to plan our travel in advance to avoid traffic and often leave home at 6.30am for work," he said.