Govt plans 10-crore foot overbridge at Chromepet, locals demand road link

Chennai: Even as the govt plans a new foot overbridge (FOB) with escalators at SDNB Vaishnav College junction in Chromepet, residents say it's no match for what they really need — a road overbridge or underpass at level crossing no. 26 .
CMDA minister P K Sekarbabu recently announced that the 10-crore FOB will be executed soon. MLA I Karunanithi said a detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared, after which tenders will be floated. "CMDA will build it and hand it over to Tambaram Corporation or Highways Department for maintenance," said S Balachander, Tambaram Corporation commissioner.
Though happy about the upcoming pedestrian facility, residents say the govt must prioritise a heavy vehicle-compatible subway or flyover to ease congestion and improve connectivity. "A vehicular subway would link GST Road with Shanthi Nagar, Radha Nagar, Ganapathipuram and even Nanmangalam, and reduce dependency on private transport," said local activist V Santhanam.
All level crossings would eventually have to be closed, he pointed out. "Authorities suggest using the MIT Flyover or the Vels College route as alternatives, but a proper underpass or flyover is far more beneficial. It could also revive the long-discontinued MTC bus route 52-E," he said.
Residents from Nemilicherry and nearby areas say they spend at least 200 twice a week just to reachthe level crossing from where they walk to GST Road to board buses. "More than one lakh residents across 20 localities, especially between Radha Nagar Subway and Arulmurugan Nandavanam Nagar, don't have proper MTC bus access," said P Viswanathan, convener of the Chitlapakkam Residents Associations Co-ordination Committee.
He added that a flyover would work better than a subway, given the area's flood risk. "The state plans to connect the airport and Kilambakkam by metro. Fixing the level crossing bottleneck as part of that project makes sense," he said.
MLA Karunanithi said talks with the Railways are ongoing. "We're weighing both options — a subway or a flyover. We'll decide soon," he said.