Delay in rail overbridge at Ennore affects commuters

The Greater Chennai Corporation has taken up the rail overbridge project allotting Rs 137 crore to the project. The first phase of the construction was over in 2017 and a section of the flyover was opened for public. But, work on the second phase is yet to begin.

The journey via Wall Tax Road and Cochrane Basin Bridge Road are two of the shortest routes connecting Central station with Ennore, which help commuters reach the station in half the time. But now the route is busy due to diversion of vehicles from Tiruvottiyur High Road to Ennore High Road because of the incomplete flyover and Metro Rail work.

Apart from road diversion, traffic chaos ensues due to two railway level-crossings at Ennore High Road. “Even before the train arrives, the gate is closed for nearly 15 to 20 minutes, which affects school children and officegoers who get late to reach their destination. Even during an emergency, the gate is not opened. This problem can only be solved when the second phase of the bridge is constructed,” said R Banumathi, a resident.

Saratha V, a vegetable vendor near the railway crossing at Parameswaran Nagar, said, “An accident took place on the track a few years ago, which prompted the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to put up railway gates for public safety. The gates are closed four or five times in a day by the IOC to allow its petroleum containers to pass through, which delays the commuters by at least half hour. As the rail overbridge is yet to come, we are forced to cross the railway track.”

According to Murugesan, Assistant Executive Engineer, Chennai Corporation, tenders have been issued for the second phase of rail overbridge. “We are waiting for the traffic police to make alternative route arrangements to pave the way for construction work,” he said.