Delay in flyover work troubles motorists

When asked about the slow pace of work at these two points, sources in the Highways department defended it saying that works were going on in full swing and one wing would be ready by this monthend. 

Sources said that the construction of both the flyovers commenced in 2011 and attributed the delay to various factors, including removal of Anna Arch and political reasons. The actual deadline for both the projects was 2013, sources added.

“The delay in completion of the flyovers is creating a big mess every day. Officials should try to complete the projects in big cities as fast as possible, otherwise traffic congestion will become the order of the day at such points. In the present cases, it has been around five years since the works started and both are yet to be finished,” lamented T Kannaiya of Shanthi Colony in Anna Nagar.  

“It is a major head-ache every day, it takes 10 to 20 minutes to cross the road at these two points. Sometimes the vehicles are stopped haphazardly with no space for pedestrians even to get to the other side of the road,” said M Ravi, a private firm employee who regularly uses both the stretches. An official in the Highways department (Metro wing), requesting anonymity, said that “one fly over will be completed by the end of this month, while another will take a little more time.” 

Regarding the delay, the official said that due to heavy movement of vehicles they could carry out the work only between 10 pm and 4 am.