Date:05/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/05/stories/2007060504550200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Overbridges with escalators planned

Kannal Achuthan

10 facilities to come up at busy junctions

Chennai : Pedestrians will soon have the convenience of foot overbridges with escalators to help them cross busy roads in the city.

The Chennai Corporation has planned 10 such bridges in dense traffic junctions in Anna Salai, EVR Periyar Salai and Sardar Patel Road.

At present, foot over-bridges have been largely unpopular because of the long flight of steps that pedestrians have to climb. Despite the risk involved, many pedestrians prefer to jaywalk across roads rather than take the bridges. Corporation officials said the reluctance to use the bridges would come down if escalators were available. Mayor M. Subramanian had earlier said that the escalator bridges project would cost Rs. 2.5 crore.

Proposed bridges

The City Traffic Police had given the Corporation a list recommending the locations where the escalator bridges could be constructed. Bids have been called to construct the bridges on a design-build-operate-transfer basis.