Koyambedu flyover likely to be ready only in mid-2019.

Motorists taking the Jawaharlal Nehru Salai in Koyambedu will have to put up with the slow pace of traffic for some more time. With traffic being heavy at all times, the construction of the flyover in Koyambedu is likely to get over only in mid-2019.

The junction of Kaliamman Koil Street and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai is crucial since it has in its vicinity the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (recently renamed as Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Bus terminus), the omni bus stand, Koyambedu fruits, vegetable and flower markets and the MTC terminus right next to it. Every hour, the junction witnesses around 15,000 vehicles.

“Traffic starts by 3 a.m. from the markets and buses from outstation come in till 8 a.m. Then, there is regular traffic and heavy pedestrian movement in that location. We get very little time to work. The contractor is unable to work during heavy traffic since heavy vehicles at the work site cannot even make a turn on the road as they will cause an instant jam,” explained an official source in the Highways Department, who is connected with the ₹93.5 crore project that began in February 2017.

“Though the contract period is over, we are giving extension of time to the contractor. We are unable to work fast since heavy vehicles like cranes cannot even take a U-turn on the road space beside the barricade as such things cause instant traffic jams on the busy road. Only small stretches of the road are being barricaded in phases. We are presently constructing the deck slabs — there are a total of 40 of these in the 1.15 km long flyover — and hope to speed up the work,” another official explained.

Residents, meanwhile, said that the site could do with better lighting.

“A bus stop that has been put up by the police near the State election commission office could also be brighter. There is one light there, which is insufficient. The barricading has taken up two lanes of the road, leaving very little space for vehicular movement. Perhaps they could think of reducing the space used for construction,” said K. Ananthapadmanabhan, a resident of Koyambedu.

THE HINDU