Delayed start: Piling has begun for the rail over-bridge, which is proposed to be built to a length of 630 metres. It will start near Providence Mall and end near the AFT main building on the Cuddalore Road.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
After a delay of more than seven months, the construction of a four-lane rail over-bridge near the level crossing at Anglo French Textiles (AFT) on the arterial Cuddalore Road has finally begun.
The project was initially held up by the shifting of the temporary bus stand to Cuddalore Road. Though the reconstructed Rajiv Gandhi Bus Terminus on Maraimalai Adigal Salai was inaugurated in May, the rail over-bridge project ran into delays again following traffic diversions to facilitate retrofitting and strengthening of the rail over-bridge on 100-Feet Road.
The work started on July 30. The traffic police have made alternative arrangements for vehicles to ply on the Cuddalore Road.
The ₹72-crore bridge, being constructed jointly by Southern Railway and Puducherry’s Highways Department, will decongest traffic along the Puducherry-Cuddalore Road near the AFT and the District Court. Of the total cost, around ₹52 crore will be utilised from the Smart Cities funds and ₹19 crore will be borne by the Railways.
The level crossing is situated on the Cuddalore Road branching off Maraimalai Adigal Salai and connects Mudaliarpet and Uppalam. The frequent closure of the railway gate in the busy section has been causing much inconvenience to motorists.
According to a senior railway official, “Piling has begun for the rail over-bridge. Construction will now focus on the mall side, starting with spans for the approach road. The bridge is proposed to be built to a length of 630 metres. It will start near Providence Mall and end near the AFT main building on the Cuddalore Road. It will also include a limited-use subway. Another subway has also been planned. The project will be completed in 15 months.”
According to D. Jayaseelan, a resident, “There is a heavy traffic congestion from the AFT to Marappalam Junction, with vehicles queuing up to a distance of one km at peak hours. The rail over-bridge, a long-pending demand, will help to reduce the distance between Marappalam and Venkata Subba Reddiar Square. It will also serve as an alternative route to the city.”
Published – August 03, 2025 05:21 pm IST
