Why Chennai’s Anna Salai1.5-km flyover section is a big relief for commuters

A 1.5-km section of the Anna Salai flyover from Saidapet to CIT Nagar has been completed, marking significant progress in the long-pending project to ease traffic congestion.

More than 50 of the 91 piers have been installed, and pre-fabricated spans brought from Mumbai and Gujarat have been placed, accelerating construction of the elevated corridor.

An 80-metre asphalt approach road has been built from Saidapet, followed by a concrete stretch up to CIT Nagar, improving connectivity and preparing the route for further flyover integration.

Work on the Nandanam to Teynampet stretch is still at the pillar stage, with officials saying visible progress may take another four months after recent utility shifting work.

Around 69 of the 91 pillars are being built above the metro corridor, using its foundation support designed to withstand heavy loads, allowing integration of both transport infrastructures.

Work is ongoing to install steel girders and concrete deck slabs for the 3.2-km, four-lane flyover, which will use about 15,000 tonnes of steel and cost Rs 621 crore.

Barricades have been removed in parts and U-turns added, but diversions through Teynampet and T Nagar are causing congestion, with residents urging faster completion of pending sections.