Chennai Residents Demand Urgent Construction of Velachery Overpasses for Mobility
Residents of AGS Colony and surrounding neighborhoods in Velachery West, Chennai, are demanding the early construction of two proposed overpasses that would connect Srinivasa Nagar 2nd Main Road to the Inner Ring Road (IRR). This link is deemed crucial for daily mobility and emergency access, yet work has not begun despite recent approval in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) budget.
Longstanding Demand and Current Challenges
More than 1,000 residents from interior neighborhoods currently face significant inconvenience, taking a nearly 1-kilometer detour to reach the IRR due to the absence of a connection over Veerangal Odai. This drainage channel carries excess rainwater from Adambakkam lake and surrounding areas to the Pallikaranai marshland, creating a barrier to direct access.
Geetha Ganesh, secretary of the AGS Colony Residents Welfare Association, emphasized that this is an eight-year-old demand, with multiple GCC commissioners having visited the site. "The over-bridge connecting Srinivasa Nagar 2nd Main Road will enable swift crossing of the canal and facilitate travel between the IRR and Velachery," she stated.
Impact on Daily Life and Safety
The lack of direct connectivity forces motorists to take long detours even for short distances, increasing travel time and fuel consumption. V Sundar, a resident of Ram Nagar, highlighted that travel time to the IRR could drop from nearly 10 minutes to less than two minutes once the link road is constructed.
Pedestrians and school traffic, including students from nearby San Academy School, face daily hardships due to this gap. The proposed bridge would significantly benefit thousands who commute daily to the MRTS corridor and the Inner Ring Road, enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Flood-Prone Area and Emergency Concerns
Ward 176 Councillor V Anandam pointed out that the area is highly flood-prone, with the absence of proper connectivity exacerbating situations during the 2015 and 2023 floods. "During heavy rains, residents were unable to exit the locality, highlighting urgent safety needs," he explained.
Anandam assured that work is expected to commence soon, with completion projected within six months. These approved road links are anticipated to become a lifeline for over 12 neighborhoods, addressing long-standing deprivation of road access on the northern side of Veerangal Odai towards Madipakkam, while the southern side is already well-connected to the MRTS–IRR.
