CHENNAI: Construction of the Kathipara flyover will be completed earlier than the scheduled date of April 2007, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu said on Sunday.

Giving an account of the progress of the flyover work, the Minister told the media that the foundation work of six pillars had been completed and concreting was in progress. For the remaining pillars, work would commence after diverting the traffic and shifting of some utilities. There would be 16 pillars in all for the proposed flyover.

Mr. Baalu maintained that the work at Kathipara and other places were being carried out without affecting the traffic. "It will go on like this in future also," he said, after reviewing the execution of several projects by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in and around Chennai.

As regards the construction of a flyover near the Chennai airport, the Minister said 42 hoardings had to be removed and owners of six hoardings had obtained stay orders from courts. Steps would be taken to get the stay vacated.

Work on the pedestrian subway from Tirusoolam railway station to the airport would begin shortly.

Tambaram, Alandur subways

Two other pedestrian subways at Tambaram and Alandur would be thrown open to the public soon. "Most likely, next month," the Minister said.

Except a staircase on one side, the work on the fourth subway (at Pallavaram) on the Grand Southern Trunk Road had been completed.

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