The Hindu 21.03.2013
Civic body looks at new avenues for improving junctions
One year after the announcement of a feasibility study
for grade separators in key junctions, Chennai Corporation has asked the
consultant to study options for junction improvement and corridor
development near the junctions.
This is after the
consultant completed the traffic study component of the feasibility
study and listed those junctions where the passenger car unit per hour
crossed 10,000. The study concluded that grade separators were necessary
in such junctions. However, the construction of grade separators is
likely to involve land acquisition. The Chennai Corporation has decided
to reduce the requirement of land that has to be acquired for grade
separators.
With this aim in mind, the Corporation
suggested junction improvement in Adhithanar Salai, Pantheon Road and
Dr. Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road and development of corridors across River
Cooum through junctions such as College Road, Sterling Road and Valluvar
Kottam High Road.
It was last year that Mayor Saidai
Duraisamy proposed to conduct feasibility studies for construction of
grade separators at Arcot Salai, Saligramam and K.K. Nagar 80 feet Road
Junction; Mandaiveli Junction near Mandaiveli Bus Stand Junction;
Bharathi Salai and Royapettah Clock Tower Junction; Gandhi Mandapam
Salai and Ponniamman Koil Salai Junction at Kotturpuram.
The
study for facilities at Bharathi Salai and Royapettah Clock Tower
Junction study was dropped because of traffic diversions for metro rail
project.
The proposal for a feasibility study to connect Usman Road flyovers was also made. But that study too did not commence.
The
flyover at the junction of North Usman Road-Kodambakkam High Road was
constructed at a cost of Rs. 9.72 crore and the one at Usman
Road-Duraisamy Road junction at a cost of Rs. 19.8 crore during the DMK
regime to help reduce traffic congestion.
However,
the two flyovers only added to traffic congestion. The one at the Usman
Road-Duraisamy Road junction does not permit free movement of vehicles
on service lanes.
The Fire and Rescue Services
Department too had complained that fire tenders could not gain access to
Ranganathan Street, Natesan Street and Ramasamy Street. Members of T.
Nagar Welfare Associations had also called for demolition of the Usman
Road-Duraisamy Road flyover.
So the civic body will
opt for flyovers only where similar problems will not arise. Other
junctions will be redesigned and improved.
Study for plan to connect T. Nagar flyovers also not started