Residents want govt to sort out flyover deadlock with Air Force, highways dept

CHENNAI: Anakaputhur residents are hoping the state government will step in to break the deadlock between the highways department and the air force so that they get a flyover that they have been awaiting.
Work on a flyover across the Adyar river at Anakaputhur came to a halt in May after the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Tambaram said a portion of the land being used for the flyover belonged to the defence ministry.The IAF said the highways department had not got approval from the ministry to use the 980sqm of land. Tambaram revenue officials and village administrative officers confirmed IAF's claim.
"The state government should help us get the work completed before the onset of north-east monsoon. For years, we have been wading through neck-deep water, especially during the monsoon,
to cross the river to reach Anakaputhur and Pallavaram. The flyover will be a lifeline," said R Kalanthari, president, Tharapakkam village panchayat. The flyover will connect Anakaputhur and Tharapakkam village.
Residents of over a dozen villages, including Eradamkattalai, Kovur, Gerugambakkam and Tharapakkam, have to cross the river to reach the city via Anakaputhur and Pallavaram. Vehicles have to take a longer route through Kundrathur, a diversion of 8km. During emergencies, people find it difficult to transport patients to hospitals on GST Road.
"The flyover will save time and also make travel safer. During the monsoon, the Adyar river rises and adjoining areas get flooded," said S Kannan, a resident of Anakaputhur.
In March 2010, the state highways department started the project based on resolutions passed by the Anakaputhur municipality and Tharapakkam village panchayat two years earlier. However, they did not consult revenue officials.
Four decades ago, the defence ministry had a water sump and a pumping station on the land now needed for the flyover. Once arrangements were made on the IAF campus for water supply, the pumping station was abandoned. The Anakaputhur municipality has been using the land as a dump yard for about 20 years.
After the project ran into trouble in May, IAF and state highways officials met. IAF agreed to allow the work if it was compensated with land of equal market value. However, the Kancheepuram district administration is unable to find an alternative site as there is no vacant land in Anakaputhur. IAF is not willing to accept cash compensation.
The Rs 4.5 crore flyover was to have been completed by March this year. The date was moved to September, a month ahead of the onset of north-east monsoon. The flyover is to be 250m long (including the approach roads at both ends), 7m high and 12m wide - enough for two buses. Though work continues at the Tharapakkam side, IAF personnel are on guard at the Anakaputhur side to ensure that no work is carried out.