Chennai loses footbridges to major infrastructure projects

Chennai loses footbridges to major infrastructure projects

Owing to the implementation of major infrastructure projects, the city is set to lose a number of footbridges. Southern Railway has demolished the new footbridge constructed near the Park Station, opposite the Ripon Building, for laying the fourth line from Beach to Egmore. The Greater Chennai Corporation has said the footbridge project at Anna Nagar has been shelved because of the Metro Rail project.

The fourth line has resulted in the dismantling of a few foot bridges, including those at the Park and Fort railway stations. The prestigious ₹275-crore project is being executed fast.

A senior official of Southern Railway said that as part of the fourth line, the footbridges at the Park and Fort stations were dismantled for facilitating track work and installation of the overhead electricity cables. “The footbridges, which were dismantled, will be reconstructed. The foundation for the footbridges and fabrication of platform shelters are in progress,” said an official.

Corporation councillors said there was no clarity on the timeline for the construction of footbridges in neighbourhoods where the Metro Rail project was under way. Residents called for a timeline for building the footbridges so that the councillors could monitor their construction.

Councillor T.V. Shemmozhi said the project for a footbridge near Kendriya Vidyalaya at Anna Nagar was shelved as Chennai Metro Rail Limited promised to create facilities for pedestrians. “Currently, the pedestrians are unable to cross the stretch. The residents have been asked to wait for a year,” he said. “Senior citizens have been unable to use the foot bridge for 15 months near Anna Nagar Sixth Avenue, near SBOA School. The Highways Department has not paid the electricity bills,” he said.

Pedestrians have demanded footbridges across the Grand Trunk Road near VR Mall, Thirumangalam Junction, Koyambedu Roundabout near the Vijayakant memorial and Padi Roundabout, especially near Saravana Stores. As a lot of shoppers visit VR Mall, commuters from Thirumangalam and Padi take a U-turn near Koyambedu Bridge. At rush hours, pedestrians are jumping over the medians, increasing the risk of accidents.

M. Elavarasan, a resident of Thirumangalam, said the risk faced by school students was high along the stretch. “I have seen people, including school students, risking their lives daily to cross the road. Something needs to be done immediately.”