TARDY PACE: Land acquisition issues have put the brakes on the construction of an overbridge at Maduvankarai Railway level-crossing near Guindy Railway station. — PHOTO: S. S. Kumar

CHENNAI: Hopes of an early resumption of work on the construction of the overbridge at Maduvankarai Railway level-crossing (near Guindy Railway station) look bleak as problems in land acquisition are hindering the flyover project.

Highway officials attribute the delay to the slow progress by revenue officials in acquiring lands for the project.

Long-felt need

An overbridge connecting Chakrapani Street (near Guindy Race Course) with M.K.N. Road was a long-felt need of the public. And in this regard the State Government planned to construct a flyover across the railway level-crossing to facilitate easy flow of traffic. The flyover construction that started in August 2004 was to have been completed by July 2005. With problems in land acquisition cropping up midway, the flyover work was stopped putting people to hardship.

Now that the project has been delayed by more than a year, the highways officials are also concerned about the escalation in the project cost. The flyover was planned to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 5.16 crore.

Coordination

The other problem that can be attributed to the delay is the Highway officials having to coordinate with two District Collectorates (Chakrapani Street falls under Chennai District and M.K.N. Road falls under Kancheepuram District) in completing the project. While some progress has been made in acquiring lands on Chakrapani Street, slow progress in acquiring lands on M.K.N. Road is hampering resumption of the project.

The residents of Chakrapani Street who have been suffering from bad and potholed roads are hoping that the Chennai Corporation will give temporary relief by forming a road to make it motorable.

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