The proposed elevated road along the ECR or East Coast Road would start at Tidel Park junction and it would end at Uthandi. By this, the motorists would be able to avoid as many as 17 traffic junctions. The travel time would be reduced by 20min for the motorists. Sounds incredible right!!
On Monday, 19thAugust, Mr. E V. Velu, Public Works and Highways minister reviewed the proposed elevated road and this caught the attention.
It is noteworthy that the proposed elevated road would be of 15km and it would start at the Tidel Park junction and end at Uthandi passing over LB Road junction, Kottivakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam and Akkarai etc. For the sake of the public, the elevated road would have entry and exit at LB. Road junction, Thiruvanmiyur RTO office, Neelankarai, Injambakkam and Akkarai. This was mentioned by the minister Mr. Velu.
Along the Thiruvanmiyur- Uthandi stretch there are about 17 traffic signals and it would take about 45 to 60 minutes to cross the stretch. Information gathered is that the road at present carries 69000 vehicles every day. On both sides of the road, there are 347 minor roads and streets.
The high density of vehicular movement here as led to heavy traffic congestion and this despite the widening of the road. Taking this into consideration, the TN govt is now thinking about the feasibility study of the elevated road. It is superb to mention that once the elevated road gets ready then the motorists would be able to cross the stretch in 20 minutes.
In order to reduce the traffic congestion, the Highways dept has taken up the 6 laning of 8.8km stretch on the ECR from Thiruvanmiyur to Akkarai. Administrative sanction of Rs 940 cr was provided by the TN govt.
The minister Mr. Velu spoke about how the road widening was taken up in 4 phases Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai and Akkarai. In localities like Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai and Akkarai, the works are already going on. By April 2025, these works would be completed. The minister concluded that the SWD works have already started in those places where land acquisition process has been completed.