The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Work to link East Tambaram with road overbridge at Sanatorium begins

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Friday, Apr 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Work to link East Tambaram with road overbridge at Sanatorium begins

K.Manikandan

Residents say it is a victory for their four-year campaign

They approached the High Court that directed formation of committee to look into their grievances

— Photo: K. Manikandan

A view of the road overbridge under construction near Tambaram Sanatorium Railway Station, which will soon have an access ramp to Bharatha Matha Street.

TAMBARAM: The four-year-old struggle of the residents of East Tambaram seeking an access ramp from the upcoming road overbridge near the Tambaram Sanatorium station to Bharatha Matha Street in their locality has become fruitful with the work commencing on Wednesday.

The ROB would be replacing the railway level crossing (LC No. 29).

A section of the residents of East Tambaram, present at the launch of the work on the ramp, termed the development as a victory of their struggle.

According to them, in 2000 the State government had given its administrative sanction for the ROB and work on the Rs.16 crore project began in 2004.

While the plan spoke about providing a link between the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road and the Chitlapakkam Second Main Road, it was silent about the access to Bharatha Matha Street in East Tambaram that receives a significant volume of traffic.

Residents of East Tambaram raised this point by organising protests and charged that the bridge deprived them of an access. They approached the Madras High Court that directed the formation of a committee to look into their grievances.

Over the past couple of years, the Chief Secretary, L. K. Tripathy, and some senior officials of Southern Railway and RITES interacted with them and submitted their reports.

And a few months ago, it was announced that an access would be provided to the bridge from Bharatha Matha Street.

East Tambaram residents had staged peaceful demonstrations in the past and Wednesday’s development only reiterated that an united struggle could help people achieve their genuine rights, said C. P. Ramachandran, General Secretary of East Tambaram 12th Ward Resident’s Welfare Association.

The remaining work included constructing 13 pillars and slab decks for the bridge and the cost for the same would be met from the Rs.16 crore that has been allotted. The project was expected to be completed by December this year.

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