Date:03/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/03/stories/2008040360000400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Underpass linking GST Road with bypass to be opened soon

K. Manikandan

It will immensely benefit motorists bound for Bangalore and Kolkata

Photo : A. Muralitharan

Ready for use: The underpass, which connects Grand Southern Trunk Road with the Chennai bypass. —

TAMBARAM: The underpass (subway) to connect Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road with Chennai Bypass at Irumbuliyur has been completed and is expected to be thrown open to traffic soon.

The Rs. 4-crore project, of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), on which work began about two years ago, would immensely benefit motorists, especially those travelling long distance from Chengalpattu and Tambaram towards Bangalore and Kolkata.

It has been built under the road over bridge across the railway lines between Tambaram and Perungalathur railway stations. The subway is 42 metres long, 13 metres wide and its height is 5.5 metres. It was taken up under the Second Phase of Chennai Bypass project that included widening and extension from Madhuravoyal to Madhavaram.

Chennai Bypass was taken up under NHAI’s Golden Quadrilateral project and the first phase of the 19-km long road between Irumbuliyur and Madhuravoyal was for easier connectivity between two National Highways, NH 45 – GST Road and NH 4 – Bangalore Highway. It was dedicated in June 2002 and its extension to Madhavaram would connect another National Highway, NH 5 – Kolkata Highway, officials told The Hindu. Till now, motorists had to a travel till Perungalathur, take a ‘U’ turn and come back on GST Road to reach Chennai Bypass. The opening of the subway would save about 3 km and more importantly, it would prevent traffic congestion. Containers from Madras Export Processing Zone – Special Economic Zone in Tambaram Sanatorium would find it easier to reach Chennai Port, officials added. As even the final touches to this important project were completed, it would be opened soon, officials added.