Chennai: More than 1.5 lakh riders, who regularly travel across the Koyambedu, can sigh of relief because the state highway department has begun to expand the stretch of road under the flyover that will soon be opened.
According to official data, more than 40 stores, which symbolized public spaces were destroyed in the past half of the year.
Even then, traffic congestion continues to get worse because the road width becomes narrow near Kalimman Coil Street-Jawaharlal Nehru Street Junction.
A commercial building at the intersection, which is the main cause of traffic barriers, finally destroyed on Monday when staying emptied at Madras High Court.
This will increase the width of the road to around 14 meters.
Highway engineers have planned to remove the construction debris from this site and complete the work of widening roads before next weekend.
This stretch will function as a service path for flyovers.
“Even before the flyover opens, this step will reduce traffic congestion.
Vehicles can move more smoothly after all construction work is complete,” said a senior highway official.
This flyover is expected to be opened for public purposes at the end of this month.
Legaran two-way 1.3 km, proposed in 2015, should be inaugurated in 2018.
After facing some delays due to land acquisition problems, the last phase of construction proved to be very complicated because of locking.
The total construction costs of the project increased to 93 crores.
A Deepak, a resident of Chinmaya Nagar said, “We hope the police to get rid of traffic transfers (introduced during the construction phase) as soon as the flyover opens”.
Traffic police said that the vehicle, came from Chinmaya Nagar, once again can start traveling along Kalimman Koil Street, take U turn under the bridge to reach Vadaplani.