The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Flyover to replace railway underpass at Vyasarpadi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 24, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Flyover to replace railway underpass at Vyasarpadi

Special Correspondent

Minister makes announcement in Assembly Paneerselvam was responding to a calling attention motion raised by ruling party member from northern Chennai P.K. Sekar Babu.

EASING CONGESTION: The underpass on GNT Road, Vyasarpadi, which is to be replaced with a flyover. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: The State Government is considering using its own funds for constructing a flyover costing Rs. 50 crores, to replace the existing railway underpass on Grand Northern Trunk Road at Vyasarpadi.

This announcement was made in the State Legislature by the Public Works Department Minister, O. Paneerselvam, while responding to a calling attention motion raised by ruling party member from northern Chennai P.K. Sekar Babu.

Mr. Sekar Babu highlighted the need to construct a flyover over the railway bridge at Vyasarpadi on the Chennai-Kolkata highway, to combat the problems created during monsoon and peak hours.

Mr. Paneerselvam, in a written reply, noted that the existing underpass was at a lower level than the surrounding areas, causing flooding during the monsoon every year that affected traffic movement. In November 2002, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa while inspecting flood affected areas, ordered the fixing of high powered pumps to remove the stagnating water and due steps had been taken to remove 133 litres of water per minute.

Later during a review, the Chief Minister had announced the construction of a flyover to get over the congestion problem.

But when the Government approached the Railways department, it was told that budgetary provisions for the Railways participation on such projects had been made for constructing flyovers only in some of the existing level crossings. Hence, the Railway had stated that it was in no position to participate financially in the flyover project.

"However, in order to implement a long standing demand of the people in the area, the government was considering a proposal to build the flyover on its own using Chennai metropolitan development plan in 2005-06," Mr. Paneerselvam said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu