Date:01/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100160550300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Kathipara grade separator opening in November

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister approached for inauguration

— Photo: A.Muralitharan

GETTING READY: Work on the grade separator at Kathipara junction is nearing completion.

CHENNAI: The clover-shaped grade separator at Kathipara junction, Guindy, will be thrown open for vehicular movement during November first week, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu said here on Tuesday.

Talking to presspersons, he said his ministry has approached Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for a formal date to declare it open. The Union Minister inspected the grade separator before addressing a workshop on warehousing on the GST Road.

“I have been inspecting it [grade separator] daily and it might be commissioned during the first week of November. We have asked for the date and the Chief Minister’s office is yet to respond.”

The project costing over Rs.260 crore has been executed by the National Highways Authority India (NHAI). This is the first biggest grade separator in this part of the country. The project had suffered delay on account of contractual problems and cost escalation of raw materials.

One arm of the clover-shaped grade separator connecting GST Road and Inner Ring Road was opened for vehicular traffic a few months ago. Some other flyovers built in the city by the NHAI are at Koyambedu, Padi and at the junction of Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road and Velachery Main road.

Mr.Baalu said that the flyover near the Chennai Airport is scheduled to be commissioned on October 19.