Kelambakkam bypass to be completed by January end

Work to construct a road bypassing Kelambakkam town on Rajiv Gandhi Salai is likely to be completed by January end. A length of 1.6 km had remained incomplete due to issues over acquisition of lands belonging to the Salt Department.

“That has now been sorted out. It took us two years to get clearance from the Centre. We also had sought a reduction in the value of the land since it was not possible to pay at market value for the same,” said an official in the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company that is constructing the bypass.

The contractor is at present forming the road in a 600 mt stretch. Since the soil from the lands used to manufacture salt will not be suitable for the purpose of forming a road, the contractor has removed the soil for a depth of 1.5 mt. “We are filling soil with a minimum CBR (California Bearing Ratio) of 7 – 8 so that it can withstand the weight of the vehicles and wont sink,” another official explained.

The work, including formation of the retaining wall, is progressing on days when there is no rain. TNRDC began constructing the 4.65-km-long six-lane wide bypass that runs from Padur to Thaiyur in 2018. The Kelambakkam bypass will begin at Padur and join the IT corridor in Thaiyur.

K. Sivaraman, an advocate from Thiruporur, said traffic on phase 2 of Rajiv Gandhi Salai had increased manifold due to many residential and IT projects and that it was imperative that the bypass be completed soon. “The existing road should also be re-laid on a regular basis and encroachments removed so that there won’t be any hindrance to movement of local vehicles and pedestrians. The cattle menace should also be dealt with to prevent accidents,” he said.

Published - November 28, 2024 10:09 pm IST