The Hindu 24.07.2009
Decks cleared for six-laning of Taramani Link Road
Deepa H Ramakrishnan
| Work will begin after a public convenience in the way is demolished; It is expected to be completed within 15 months |
— Photo : M. Vedhan 
SET FOR CHANGE: A view of the Taramani Link Road.
CHENNAI: The decks have been cleared for the six-laning of the Taramani Link Road which connects Rajiv Gandhi Salai and Velachery.
With the Chennai Corporation Council meeting on Wednesday passing a resolution to demolish a public convenience on the Taramani Link Road, the last obstruction in the way was removed. The work is expected to begin in a week.
An official of the Highways Department told The Hindu that an agreement with the contractor had been signed and after the public convenience was demolished, the work would begin. Compensation had been distributed to “project-affected persons,” who had encroached upon either side of the road at many places. The contract for the Rs.23.45-crore project had been awarded to private firm Roman Tarmet. It is expected to complete the work within 15 months.”
The road, on which traffic had increased substantially in the last few years, was battered after last year’s monsoon.
Following this, the Highways Department had initiated some repair work. A few trees along the road would be cut as part of the road-widening project, but on its completion saplings would be planted with the help of the Forest Department.
The road will have three lanes on either side and there will be drains and footpaths. World Bank funds would be available for the work under the Third Tamil Nadu Urban Development project.
According to residents of Velachery, the road is in need of improvements. Facilities for pedestrians should also be created as part of the widening work.
Flyover at Vyasarpadi
The Chennai Corporation Council also passed a resolution permitting the Highways Department to construct a portion of the proposed flyover in Vyasarpadi on land belonging to the civic body.
A Highways official said that a detailed project report has been commissioned for the Rs.85-core project. Southern Railway will share a portion of the cost of the ‘Y’-shaped flyover.
The existing road under bridge caused a lot of hardship to motorists as container lorries more often than not get stuck in it.
Traffic pile-ups are the order of the day as the RUB is narrow.