Advertisement
Work on the 3.2-km, four-lane elevated corridor between Teynampet and Saidapet is visibly picking up pace. With 40 of 91 piers in place, the highways department has started installing steel spans (ranging from 11 m to 30 m) brought in from Mumbai and Gujarat. Of the 91 pillars, 69 are being built over the underground metro corridor, which helps speed up the foundation work. However, delays persist near Nandanam and Teynampet due to high-voltage power-line relocation and soil-stabilisation issues. Earlier optimism for a public opening before Pongal has given way to a revised target of end-March.
Construction of the INR 621 crore Anna Salai flyover, a 3.2 km, four-lane elevated road between Saidapet and Teynampet is now moving faster after several months of slow progress. The highways department has already erected 40 of the 91 required piers, and steel spans are being placed where piers are ready. These prefabricated spans, sourced from Mumbai and Gujarat, measure between 11 m and 30 m, with the longer ones being installed first. Advertisement
A large portion of the piers 69 out of 91 are being constructed over a stretch of underground metro tunnel. Since the Chennai Metro Rail has already built columns that can support 1,000 tonnes, foundation work in these areas has been relatively faster. In contrast, on sections built directly on clay soil, progress is slower because stabilising the ground especially during the rainy season is proving challenging.
The work from the Saidapet side is advancing more swiftly, but construction near Nandanam and Teynampet remains constrained. One of the main obstacles is relocating 233 kV underground transmission lines belonging to Tangedco. Utility relocation is taking time, and until that is fully done, the highways department is focusing on the flyover portions where the groundwork is already completed.
Officials explain that one reason the project is relatively expensive is its design: the flyover uses steel pillars and composite girders, tailored to minimise load over the metro tunnels. The steep cost also reflects soil-stabilisation work, utility shifting, instrumentation for metro safety, and long-term maintenance costs.
When the project was first inaugurated, the aim was to decongest major intersections like Eldams Road, SIET College Road, Cenotaph Road, Nandanam, and CIT Road. However, even though earlier statements from the Highways Minister projected an opening before Pongal, recent sources now expect the flyover to be ready only by the end of March.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
