The Hindu : 20-year wait coming to an end

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 06, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

20-year wait coming to an end

By K. Lakshmi

CHENNAI, FEB.5. The long-pending need of Pattabiram residents for a road overbridge near the local railway station is being fulfilled with the laying of the foundation stone early this week.

The one lakh people of Pattabiram, a western suburb of 50 villages, waited for 20 years for a bridge across two railway crossings that link Poonamallee with Tiruvallur.

A floating population of three lakh people extensively use the level crossings situated in the busy Chennai Central-Arakkonam railway section. Vehicles from Pattabiram to Poonamallee wait for at least an hour to cross each crossing, especially during peak hours, say the residents.

To be constructed at a cost of Rs. 13 crores, the bridge will also connect Thandurai, an important village at Pattabiram, and the Madras-Tiruvallur High Road situated near the railway station. Work on the bridge, a joint venture of Southern Railway and the State Highways department, will commence in four months.

Recalling that a number of representations had been given to the authorities, a Thandurai Welfare Association member said that though several departments, including the local district administration, gave their consent for the bridge five years ago, the project did not take off. Encroachment was one of the stumbling blocks. Lack of coordination among departments was another.

T. Sadagopan, vice-president, Thandurai Pattabiram Consumer Council, says the motorists have to travel via Avadi to reach Poonamallee, 16 km from Pattabiram. If the work is completed, it would benefit road users by reducing the travel distance between Pattabiram and Poonamallee by at least six km. The route is also used for inter-state transport to various places, including Renigunta and Tirupati, says Mr. Sadagopan.

Though several welfare associations complain that the authorities have not indicated to them any timeframe for the commencement of the project, A. Krishnasamy, Sriperumbudur member of Parliament, says that Southern Railway have already floated bids and sanctioned Rs. 5.7 crores for the initial works. Encroachments along the railway area have also been cleared. The project will begin in four months.

Noting that Pattabiram is part of the Avadi Municipality, S. M. Nasar, the municipal chairman, says that the absence of a bridge has been felt especially during emergencies and ambulances and fire engines have no option but to wait at the level crossings and take a detour through Avadi to reach other areas, such as Poonamallee.

A Southern Railway official said that the portion of the construction by railways would be completed in about two years, after which the Highways department would take over the project.

On the residents' appeal about the halt of fast trains between the Chennai and Arakkonam section at the Pattabiram station, the official said the issue would be looked into.

At a function on Monday, Mr. Krishnasamy laid the foundation stone for the bridge.

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