Chennai: Shops and houses that had come up on poromboke land in Pattabiram were demolished on Saturday to make way for the construction of a rail overbridge.

Highways department authorities had requested the Thiruvallur district administration to clear unauthorised buildings in the South Bazaar area of Pattabiram. These buildings had come up in the catchment area of a pond in the area.

"We had given eviction notices six months ago, but the building owners did not shift from the premises," a revenue official said. Evicted residents who live below the poverty line will be given alternative land, the official added.

Work related to the proposed bridge began a year ago but the encroachments had impeded progress. The Hyderabad-based company IVRCL is executing the project. Residents say the bridge would ease traffic congestion.

At present, motorists on the Madras Thiruvallur High (MTH) Road spend an hour battling the traffic to cross Pattabiram. As there are several brick kilns and small industries in the area, lorries and trucks take the route. Hence, the bridge must be built to support heavy vehicle traffic between Chennai and Thiruvallur, residents said.

Noting that the bridge is "L-shaped," residents say it would be better if the structure was "T shaped," with the bridge branching off as a separate road to Avadi. The local body and consumer groups have also sent letters in September last to the Chief Minister's office explaining the condition of the road and the need for a "T shaped" bridge.

A similar demolition drive is scheduled for Tuesday at Thiruninravur, where a rail overbridge is to be constructed. About 25 houses and 10 shops built in the poromboke land near the burial ground in Thiruninravur would be demolished.

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