Chennai, Oct 6:
A 630-metre bypass proposed to ease traffic congestion in RA Puram, Santhome and Adyar has remained stalled for nearly 15 months as the project awaits Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance.
The Rs 26.5-crore project, for which the State Highways Department awarded the contract in February 2025, envisages a three-lane, 10.5-metre-wide one-way road connecting DGS Dhinakaran Road and RK Mutt Road with Thiru Vi Ka Bridge on Durgabai Deshmukh Road.
Work began near the Thiru Vi Ka Bridge but was stopped within a few months. Officials said the proposed road runs along the banks of the Adyar river near the bridge and therefore requires approval from the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority. A proposal seeking clearance has already been submitted.
The bypass is intended to enable vehicles from Mylapore and Santhome to reach the Thiru Vi Ka Bridge without entering Durgabai Deshmukh Road. Once completed, the Highways Department plans to remove the median on Durgabai Deshmukh Road and make it one-way for traffic from Adyar towards RA Puram and Abiramapuram.
At present, the roads connecting Santhome, RK Mutt Road and Greenways Road experience heavy congestion during peak hours, with vehicle queues extending up to two km. Officials said the bypass would significantly reduce traffic pressure and travel time in the area once completed.