Work on Nemilicherry-Pallavaram subway to commence soon, Highways dept tells court

Disposing a plea moved by Pallavaram Constituency MLA E Karunanidhi that the Railway level crossing is managed manually by the railway administration leading to unusual congestion and traffic in the locality, a division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad, said “Now that the model of conduct is not in force, Secretary to the Government Highways department, Chief Engineer (Metro) and other authorities are directed to implement the orders of this court dated March 1 in letter and spirit, as the project is pending from 2003.”

The bench also recorded the submission of the Additional Advocate General (AAG) that physical possession of the subject lands has been taken, existing buildings have been demolished, estimate has been prepared and submitted for administrative sanction. After obtaining the required sanction from the Government, tender would be called for and work will be commenced at the earliest, the AAG said.

The High Court on March 1 had held “What remains to be considered is the approach road. There shall be a direction to the Secretary, Highways Department, Chief Engineer (Metro) to form the approach ramps within 18 months and while doing so ensure that vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic is well channelised. Commissioner, Pallavaram Municipality, is directed to extend the fullest cooperation for formation of the approach roads.”

The petitioner had contended that in Radha Nagar Main Road, there is a railway track running across the road. Public are permitted to cross the railway track to reach GST road from Nemiicherry through Radha Nagar Main Road and vice versa.

Further, Radha Nagar Main Road is only 20 feet wide and during peak hours public are forced to wait for a long time to cross the railway gate and hence a subway ought to be constructed at railway level crossing and widen Radha Nagar Main Road, the petitioner said.