CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has completed the road overbridge at level crossing 2B in Ezhil Nagar, which is expected to be opened to the public after the Pongal holidays. Built at a cost of Rs 105 crore, the facility is aimed at easing traffic congestion in Korukkupet and other neighbourhoods in north Chennai.
The ROB is expected to relieve residents of Tondiarpet, Ezhil Nagar and Kodungaiyur from traffic snarls during peak hours. Construction began in 2023 with a deadline of May 2025, but the project has been completed ahead of schedule.
A Chennai Corporation official said, “All works have been completed and the bridge is ready for inauguration. The ROB will be formally opened by the end of the month. The two-lane ROB 840 metres long, including a 38-metre bowstring span, which is expected to provide significant relief to residents in the locality.”
The completion of the ROB was a major relief for commuters dependent on bus route 157, which operates between Tiruvottiyur and Red Hills. The service was suspended for the past two years due to the construction work.G Sarath, founder of Vysaithozhargal
In the absence of bus service, residents have been forced to depend on auto rickshaws and two-wheelers to reach Korukkupet and Tondiarpet. Sarath said, “Korukkupet railway gates often remain closed, forcing hundreds of commuters to wait for up to 30 minutes during peak morning hours. The bottleneck frequently results in long queues of vehicles, causing delays for office-goers and schoolchildren. With the inauguration of the ROB, travel time is expected to come down significantly, and the long-pending resumption of the 157 bus service is likely to follow.”