Chennai, Aug 15:
Pedestrians using the busy Tambaram-Chengalpattu stretch of NH-32 will soon have safer and easier ways to cross the highway, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planning to construct four foot overbridges (FOBs) equipped with lifts and CCTV surveillance at key locations.
The ₹11.38-crore project is aimed at improving pedestrian safety at four identified black spots — Urapakkam near Sivan Temple, Guduvanchery near the EB office, Guduvanchery near the railway station and MM Nagar near Ford Junction.
The proposed FOBs will be fitted with CCTV cameras linked to the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) at the NH-32 toll plaza. This will allow the facilities and surrounding areas to be monitored remotely.
Each FOB will have lifts on both sides of the highway, with every lift capable of carrying at least 16 pedestrians. The facility is expected to make highway crossings easier for senior citizens and people with mobility difficulties.
The entire pedestrian walkway, including approach roads, staircases and lift areas, will be illuminated. NHAI has also proposed installing solar panels over the FOBs and their approach ramps.
As part of the road safety measures, guard rails, road studs, chevron signs and information, cautionary and regulatory signboards will be installed around the crossings. The FOBs will maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 5.5 metres above the highway.
The FOB near Guduvanchery railway station is expected to particularly benefit commuters and pedestrians travelling to and from the station, which witnesses significant footfall. The other three locations also experience heavy pedestrian movement across NH-32.
The latest project builds on NHAI’s earlier efforts to improve pedestrian safety along the corridor. In 2024, lift-equipped FOBs were constructed at several locations, including Perungalathur near Iraniyamman Temple, Vandalur near the railway station, Thailavaram near Estancia Tech Park, Thailavaram near Valliammal Engineering College, Kattankolathur Junction, Maraimalai Junction near Township and Singaperumal Koil railway station.