Four-lane bridges built to ease commute from Maduravoyal to Nolambur rendered ineffective as link road remains narrow, encroached

Chennai: Months after the city corporation opened two bridges along Poonamallee High Road to reduce travel time for people heading towards Nolambur or Mogappair, commuters lament that nothing much has changed -- thanks to encroachments and incomplete widening works that make travel an arduous task.The four-lane bridges over the Cooum redirect commuters from Poonamallee High Road onto Nolambur Union Road at Maduravoyal. Commuters headed to Nolambur/Mogappair can use this road instead of the Poonamallee High Road, cutting travel time by 10 minutes. “However, that plan has remained only on paper. In fact, taking the Poonamallee High Road itself is a better choice because the union road gets jammed during peak hours. The road is hardly two lanes wide and is uneven on several stretches. The corporation’s work to widen it has stalled midway,” said S Ravishankar, a resident of Nolambur.When TOI visited the spot, several huts and shops lined the road. One part of the road was dug up for widening, and residents said that no work was happening. A gap between the road and the Cooum bed, with cattle roaming the road, increases the risk of motorists falling. “Google Maps often redirect people through the bridge. But once they enter, people regret taking the route instantly. It is high time that the corporation widens the stretch,” said S Yuvaraj, resident-activist.Zonal chairman ‘Nolambur’ V Rajan claimed that the state govt had stopped the widening work midway, and several councillors had protested against it in Oct. “The works have resumed, and the road will soon be hassle-free,” he said. Rajan, however, denied any encroachment.Corporation commissioner G S Sameeran said widening works have been partly done along Nolambur Union Road. “We will assess the area and take up encroachment removal too. Temporary obstructions can be removed at once, but if there are houses and other kinds of encroachment, we will mull alternative accommodation and go on with the work,” he added.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in ChennaiStay updated with the latest Chennai news. Download the TOI App.