Bridge project in north Chennai expedited, to be ready next month

After a delay of six months, work on construction of a crucial bridge in north Chennai resumed on Saturday. 

The Railways started placing bowstring girders for the construction of the rail overbridge (ROB) in lieu of existing level crossing No. 2B on Manali Road in Tondiarpet zone. As the Chennai Corporation has already completed 87% of the work, the bridge is expected to be inaugurated next month.

Once the bridge is inaugurated, the Railways will close the level crossing, easing traffic congestion in the area. Residents have been complaining about a delay in reaching various parts of the city owing to the level crossing. 

An official said that the work will be expedited. Residents have demanded more bridges to eliminate railway level crossings such as LC-2, while work on two bridges by the Highways Department is under way at LC-4 and LC-6 in Chennai Corporation zones. “Greater Chennai Corporation will start bridge construction for LC-2A by December-end. Another bridge will be constructed at LC-2 by the Railways and GCC. Discussion with the Railways about land is on,” said an official.

The administrative sanction for the bridge at Division 41 in Tondiarpet zone was given on December 15, 2022. However, it was delayed owing to challenges in constructing the structure across the railway tracks. After intervention by Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, the work in the railway portion has been expedited.

The work adjacent to the railway span could not be taken up by GCC due to delay in placing bowstring girders by Railways. The cost of the work is estimated at ₹96.04 crore. The bridge will also have a 1.5-metre footpath for better pedestrian access, officials said.