Chennai: The Tambaram Eastern Bypass project, one of the long-pending schemes connecting Rajakilpakkam with Peerkankaranai, has received a new lease of life, as it is reportedly said land acquisition has resumed.
The 9 km project, proposed in 2004, connects Rajakilpakkam on Tambaram-Velacheri Main Road with Perungalathur Mofussil Bus Terminus on GST Road passing through Selaiyur, Thiruvancheri, Mappedu, Sadhanandhapuram, Nedunkundram and Alapakkam.
Once this is completed, it was expected that it would ease traffic on the GST from Tambaram till Perungalathur, and will also save lots of time for South-bound travellers. However, the project came to a halt, after repeated protests, as it required hundreds of houses to be demolished.
The State government faced the burden of acquiring over 60,000 square metres of land leading to slackness in implementation.
But against all odds, including petitions in the High Court, the first phase of the project was completed in 2014 where the 20-feet stretch between Selaiyur (MJL swimming pool) and Mappedu was widened into a 150-feet wide six-lane highway at a cost of Rs 25 crore, after which the process again was stalled.
Sources said tarmac up to 2 km, will be laid at the places covering the second phase.
There is also no concrete information about the width of the new stretch but with references from phase one, it is also likely to be a 150-feet wide six-lane stretch, say many.
“We expected that the execution will be completed a few years ago, however it was put to rest without any progress after completing a major portion of the work. A few residents approached the court against the laying of the road as they had to hand over their lands for the purpose. I hope that the government has solved this issue and is commencing the second phase,” said Anirudh, a resident of Sembakkam.
Locals also felt that this road will be helpful to commuters from Medavakkam, Sholinganallur, Madipakkam and other inner suburban areas to reach Chengalpet and other southern regions.