After 26 Years, All Phases of Perungalathur Flyover Completed and Opened
There was no announcement about the opening of the final phase of the flyover on the eastern side but people are happy about the development
Chennai: The final phase of the Perungalathur flyover project which was completed two months ago was opened for public use without any ceremony on Sunday evening marking the completion of a project which was started 26 years ago. There was no announcement about the opening of the final phase of the flyover on the eastern side but people are happy about the development.
However, the eastern side of the bridge opened last night has no lights and the people requested the authorities to install the lights on the bridge. The road at the end of the flyover linking it with the Eastern bypass road lies narrow and could not be widened at present since the forest department has not allocated the land on both sides of the road.
The eastern side of the flyover was opened for traffic at around 6.30 pm on Sunday without any announcement. Usually, the inauguration of such flyovers take place at a grand function in which top political leaders and officials take part. The flyover used to be decorated with flowers, lights and festoons. But the flyover was opened suddenly without any announcement and the vehicles were allowed to use the flyover.
Perungalathur-Peerkankaranai Residents Welfare Association president Mahendra Bhoopathi who welcomed the opening of the flyover said the eastern side of the flyover goes to Sadanandapuram and Nedungundram where many pythons, crocodiles and cobras have been caught by the forest department. Travelling on the flyover without lights would not be safe and the highways department should take steps to install the lights, he said.
He also said the highways department should coordinate with the forest department and widen the road at the end of the flyover since it would be a bottleneck causing traffic congestion. Besides, a service road should also be laid so that people enjoy the benefits of the flyover, Mahendra Bhoopathi said.
The final phase of Perungalathur flyover project on the eastern side towards Nedungundram was completed two months ago but the officials were delaying the inauguration as they were waiting for the completion of the Eastern Bypass Road project which is entirely a separate project. Linking the inauguration of both the projects led to undue delay in the opening of the final phase of the Perungalathur flyover which was started 26 years ago.
The Eastern Bypass road which starts from the eastern side of Perungalathur flyover is pending since forest land to the extent of 4.46 hectares is needed. The highway has been trying for a long time to get the land from the national forest department. The Union government had sought twice the area of land in exchange for the forest land and the State highways had selected a place at Vedha Narayanapuram in Chengalpet to be given to the forest department. Since the process of acquisition of forest land has been delayed for the last two years, the Tambaram Eastern Bypass road is delayed.
In the year 2000, the State government and railway department planned to build a flyover near the Perungalathur railway station as a solution to the traffic woes and Rs. 86 crore was allocated. The plan included a flyover from Chengalpet to Tambaram near the railway station and another flyover from Tambaram to Chengalpet, with a roundabout to connect both of them.
After two decades, the estimate was revised in 2020 and a new scheme at a cost of Rs. 235 crore was approved. The construction works were delayed since the road is heavily congested with traffic on all days. The flyover from Chengalpet to Tambaram was opened in September 2022. The third phase of work on the flyover towards Chengalpet from Tambaram was opened in August 2024.
