Deccan Chronicle 19.02.2010

City to get 3 more elevator bridges

Feb. 18: The unique foot overbridge equipped with elevators introduced by Chennai corporation in the city has impressed pedestrians, particularly old people.

They have started using the new ‘elevator’ bridge at Uttamar Gandhi Road intersection in Nungambakkam, thankful of being spared from the painful climb up and down the stairs.

“It is a real gift for an old arthritis patient like me,” says 67-year-old Vasanthi Sridhar of Nungambakkam. “It has saved me from joint pain and made the daily visit to the temple a pleasant experience.”

The elevator has not only minimised jaywalking, but also prevented many youngsters from perilously jumping over the road medians.

“It is common to see people sustain grievous injuries while jumping over medians,” said a traffic cop manning a nearby signal. Road users are now demanding the introduction of similar bridges in several other spots, especially places suffering from severe traffic problems.

Existing foot over bridges on arterial roads such as Rajiv Gandhi Salai, where vehicles proceed at high speed, remain largely unused as jumping over the medians is the favoured option.

“The introduction of new bridges with elevators would also minimise accidents,” said a traffic cop.

The Mayor M. Subramanian, told this newspaper that a foundation stone was being laid for one such bridge in Saidapet and two more would come up on Wallajah Road near the under-construction Secretariat.