CMBT grade separator work irks motorists

After Vadapalani flyovers, the State Highways (Metro Wing) took up the construction of the one-km grade separator on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai near Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, as a way to decongest traffic. SH officials say that though they undertook the work six months ago, delay in getting permission from the police department slowed down the work, but it is currently in full swing.

However, motorists are finding it hard going. “During peak hours, vehicles are moving inch by inch and we need to wait at least 20 minutes to cross the CMBT signal,” said K Vignesh, a motorist from Anna Nagar.

Officials said that the project was proposed in 2011 but they faced a number of difficulties, like getting environmental clearance, non-availability of sand and permission from the police department.

However, as traffic volumes grew by bounds on the stretch, traffic pile up was a frequent occurrence at the Kaliamman Koil Street-Jawaharlal Nehru Salai junction and motorists faced severe inconvenience.  the SH, last year, sent a proposal to construct a grade separator at the cost of Rs 93.5 crore. B Dhanaseelan, Divisional Engineer, SH, (Metro wing), told said, “The grade separator work will begin on Jawaharlal Nehru Road (near state election commission) and will end ahead of Koyambedu flyover. It is also a fact that we did not get enough sand for the last four months and now all issues have been cleared and work is gathering pace.”

Construction work is undertaken only between 12 am to 4 am, he added. The DE was confident that motorists would be relieved once the grade separator work is completed by June next year.

Total length of grade seperator: 1,055 metres.

Mode: Four lane.