ECR residents push long-pending demand for LB Road flyover

CHENNAI: It is considered the southern gateway to the city, but Lattice Bridge Road intersection at Thiruvanmiyur still cries for attention. The vehicular population is growing by leaps and bounds, choking every inch of the road, which has widened a bit for years.
Residents of East Coast Road have made several representations to the government for a flyover to ease congestion, but to no avail. People of several colonies including Chinna Neelangarai Kuppam, Kottivakkam, Neelangarai, Injambakkam, Pallavarakkam, and far off areas like Uthandi, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam and Sholinganallur rely on this intersection to enter the city.
"Nowadays, I leave home early in the morning for work, so that I don't get stuck at the LB Road intersection. To be here during the peak hours is a hellish experience." If working days are bad, Saturdays are not any better, as daily motorists compete with swanky cars that hit the road on weekends to zip past the East Coast Road.
Federation of ECR Residents' Welfare Associations, comprising 23 colonies unanimously passed a resolution recently demanding a flyover.
Interestingly, the Chennai Corporation has been sitting on a proposal for a flyover-cum-subway at this junction for more than four years. The Rs 126-crore project was mentioned in the civic budget of 2007-08, and the local body discussed some designs. A 600-metre flyover was planned on Lattice Bridge Road, and a 440-metre subway between Thiruvalluvar Salai with West Avenue Road.
"A flyover is a necessity here," said Federation of ECR Residents Welfare Association president A Govindasamy. "With the Elevated Expressway being opposed by fisherfolks, the vehicular movement will see a steep rise in the coming years." The locals are upset that the local body which built flyovers and subways in a record time in other parts of the city, failed to take up the Lattice Bridge Road project citing lack of funds.
"With the widening of East Coast Road getting delayed, the next regime should take up the work without any delay," said A Mirza Ismail of Kottivakkam. Last heard was the Chennai Corporation would take up the project in phases. With the elections round the corner, , the officials did not wish to comment. Initial estimates suggest acquisition of land will cost the exchequer Rs 93 crore, since 52 grounds of land are required for the scheme.