On any normal day, crossing the Vijaya Nagar stretch is a challenge.
Traffic congestion and the ongoing work of the flyover are the reasons. Residents rue that it is even worse on rainy days. Some even blame the authorities for this.
“The construction of the three flyovers began a year-and-a-half ago. The work is progressing well at the Taramani Link Road and Bypass Road, but it has just begun on Vijaya Nagar-Tambaram stretch. It will take at least a year to finish the work completely. We are surprised that the authorities have not removed any of the encroachments along the stretch,” says Balakrishnan, a resident.
It is said that some shop owners have filed petitions saying they will not leave the spot and this has slowed down the work. Also, hoards of metals and construction materials have been left on the roadside, hindering traffic flow.
Another resident shared that it was unwise of the authorities to begin the work without giving compensation to the nearby shops who have been asked to evict.
Another major process that is causing traffic here is the ongoing construction of storm water drains. Ananthi, a resident from Vinayakapuram says, “The SWD work on this stretch should have been done earlier, and not when the flyover is being constructed. Commuting through this stretch is such a pain.”
On the bright side, commuters and residents need not worry about waterlogging. “Thankfuly, the authorities have provided links from the junction for rainwater to exit through an underground pipe to the culvert,” adds Ananthi.