Tenders floated for elevated corridor from Lighthouse to Thiru. Vi. Ka. Bridge

The Highways Department has called for consultants for preparing a detailed project report for the construction of a four-km elevated corridor from Lighthouse to Thiru. Vi. Ka. Bridge. This was one of the proposals announced in the Assembly Session to decongest city roads.

The Construction and Maintenance Wing has floated tenders for the corridor that is to run via Santhome High Road, Greenways Road, and Durgabai Deshmukh Road.

“Santhome High Road faces severe traffic congestion every day during rush hour as a number of VIP vehicles take it. The Marina Loop Road becomes a fresh fish market from 3 p.m. onwards daily. Though we need relief only till the the Thiru. Vi. Ka. Bridge is completed, one proposal is to extend the corridor across the river and connect it to the Adyar flyover, so that vehicles can remain elevated for another 700 m,” a source said.

The corridor will have two lanes up to 1.8 km, and the remaining of the four-km stretch will have four lanes, making land acquisition necessary.

“Acquisition costs alone could amount to ₹1,000 crore, while the construction would cost around ₹350 crore to ₹400 crore. The project would take two years to complete after receiving approval from the State government,” the source said.

A similar proposal to construct an elevated corridor from Lighthouse to Thiru. Vi. Ka. Bridge across the Adyar was made in 2022. It was proposed to begin near Srinivasapuram and built via the Marina Loop Road.

However, the plan was later dropped, recalled a retired engineer of the Highways Department.

The Santhome High Road, which has eight schools, Santhome Cathedral, various associations, and independent bungalows, apartment complexes, and commercial buildings, has not been touched by any widening project so far, the engineer added.

Circular corridor

A town planner suggested reviving an old proposal for an elevated circular corridor along the Adyar bund.

“It was proposed some 20 years ago. The corridor would help decongest city roads. It could run up to the airport and also connect the Outer Ring Road,” he added.