Highways department plans extension of two key bridges in North Chennai

CHENNAI: The State Highways Department has planned to extend two crucial bridges, the Basin Bridge and the Vyasarpadi Road Over Bridge (ROB) on Erukkancheri High Road, to ease persistent traffic congestion in North Chennai.

An announcement to this effect was made by PWD and Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna during the Assembly session.

The department will initially prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for both projects at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh each.

The 1,720-metre-long, Rs 88.65-crore Y-shaped Vyasarpadi ROB was taken up by the Highways Department in 2010 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2013. However, land acquisition issues delayed the project and it could be completed only in 2017.

The four-lane ROB starts at Basin Bridge Road and splits into two two-lane arms, one leading to Erukkancheri High Road and the other to Sathyamurthy Nagar Main Road near Kalyanapuram.

However, traffic approaching the ROB from Moolakadai gets choked near Vyasarpadi market, as vehicles have to enter the narrow Kalyanapuram Second Street to reach the Sathyamurthy Nagar arm. Vehicles coming from Basin Bridge also face congestion after landing and are forced to take Muthu Mudali Street to reach Erukkancheri High Road.

A senior Highways Department official said traffic near Vyasarpadi market remained congested throughout the day. "We will conduct field studies to understand the traffic pattern and carry out a feasibility study before preparing the DPR. We will examine various alignment options to extend the existing ROB," the official said.

The proposed extension towards Madhavaram is expected to improve connectivity between Vyasarpadi and Madhavaram, Puzhal, and the northern suburbs.

Basin Bridge widening

The Basin Bridge has been a longstanding bottleneck for vehicles from North Chennai proceeding towards Central and Broadway.

During question hour in the State Assembly on April 16, 2025, Perambur MLA RD Sekar of the DMK had urged the government to widen the bridge, citing severe congestion caused by vehicles heading towards Central and Broadway.

Responding to him, the then Public Works Minister EV Velu had said that the government would examine whether the Basin Bridge could be widened or a new bridge constructed. He had said work would be taken up that year if found feasible.

Traffic diversions have also been in place on the stretch for several years to ease congestion. Vehicles from Basin Power House Road are barred from proceeding towards Mint and have to turn left towards Basin Bridge-Erukkancheri High Road before taking a U-turn under the Vyasarpadi flyover.

Similarly, vehicles travelling from Vyasarpadi cannot take a right turn towards Basin Power House Road and have to travel up to Moolakothalam junction to make a U-turn. The diversions have added to travel time, as motorists have to cover additional distance to reach their destinations.

The Highways Department has now proposed widening the narrow bridges at Basin Bridge junction, which serves as an important link between Korukkupet and Vyasarpadi and central Chennai.

The GNT Road corridor connects the areas with Mint, Walltax Road and other parts of the city.

The railway bridge, the bridge across the Cooum, and the bridge across Otteri Nullah restrict the carrying capacity of the road at the junction. A DPR will be prepared for widening these structures, with the initial cost estimated at Rs 20 lakh.

"Traffic has been choking at Basin Bridge for several years. It should have been done much earlier. Now it will be taken up," the official said.