15 years on, work on Villivakkam ROB begins

Despite the proposal for the rail over bridge at the level crossing being brought up 15 years ago, the work was delayed due to issues including land acquisition.

A Chennai Corporation official said that the proposal for building the ROB was first mooted in 2003 to connect Kolathur Main Road and ICF Road. The work, however, was delayed owing to problems in acquiring land owned by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF). “We had finalised the agreement with ICF to acquire the 1,222 square metre land by paying Rs 10 crore as lease amount for 35 years. We will also pay Rs 1,000 per annum to the ICF,” the official said.

The ROB would be built at a cost of Rs 61.98 crore and the works are scheduled to be completed in 540 days.

The railway gate in the level crossing is closed at every 15 minutes and the level crossing witnesses more than 10 lakh Train Vehicle Units and an annual average of 19,000 passenger car units (PCU), the official said.

The Chennai Corporation will have to pay Rs 60.43 lakh to Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board for shifting water and sewer pipes in the area and Rs 55 lakh to TANGEDCO for shifting of cables andLT equipment.