The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to overhaul a crucial 900-meter stretch along the Guindy Race Course road, aiming to significantly decongest one of the city's busiest transport junctions. The project, spanning from Chakrapani Street to the Guindy Bridge junction, will feature road widening, a dedicated skywalk, and a modern 'transit' pedestrian plaza.
Decongesting a Key Multimodal Hub
At the core of this upgrade is the bustling multimodal junction that seamlessly integrates bus, suburban rail, and metro rail services. Urban designer M Charu Shila from Arcadis, the firm collaborating with GCC, highlighted the scale of foot traffic, noting that the junction witnesses an average footfall of 4,000 people every hour. The primary goal is to streamline the movement of both pedestrians and vehicles in this high-density area.
Road Widening and the New Transit Plaza
The first major component involves widening a 220-meter-long section from the Madras Race Club (MRC) gate near the race course bus stop to the Maruti ABT Centre. GCC zonal chairperson for Adyar, K Durairajan, confirmed that the MRC has agreed to provide land for this expansion, which carries an estimated cost of 4.9 crore rupees. The work will entail demolishing and rebuilding the club's compound wall and relocating a transformer. Officials have set a deadline to complete this widening by May.
Simultaneously, GCC plans to construct a state-of-the-art 'transit' pedestrian plaza at an investment of roughly 20 crore rupees, targeting completion by year-end. GCC executive engineer R Purushothaman explained that the plaza will cover a 100-meter stretch on each side of the hub—near the bus stop and the rail stations. The facility promises a host of amenities designed for commuter comfort and safety:
- Two-meter-wide footpaths on both sides.
- Ornamental lighting and standard streetlights.
- CCTV surveillance for security.
- Drinking water facilities and public seating.
- Bollards to prevent illegal vehicle parking.
- Dedicated pick-up and drop-off points for cabs and delivery services.
GCC assistant executive engineer S Karthikeyan stated that work on the plaza will commence soon after ongoing underground utility work for stormwater drains and sewers is finished.
Skywalk to Bridge the Gap
The final piece of this infrastructure puzzle is a skywalk valued at approximately 9 crore rupees. This elevated walkway is specifically designed to safely connect commuters arriving by bus directly to the railway stations, eliminating the need to navigate the congested road below. This direct link is expected to be a major step in enhancing pedestrian safety and traffic flow.
With daily commuters facing persistent congestion, there is a strong public sentiment urging the authorities to expedite these much-needed upgrades. The integrated project, once completed, aims to transform the Guindy transit hub into a more efficient, safe, and user-friendly gateway for Chennai's traveling public.
