Major Upgrade Of Padi Rail Overbridge Begins On Chennai Inner Ring Road, Bridge To Expand From 3 To 10 Lanes: Report
The Tamil Nadu Highways Department has launched a major infrastructure upgrade on the Padi rail overbridge (ROB) along Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, commonly known as Chennai’s Inner Ring Road.
A TOI report stated that the project, estimated at Rs 139 crore, will transform the existing three-lane bridge into a dual five-lane structure.
Authorities are also widening the narrow approach stretch leading towards the bridge, which frequently slows traffic during peak hours.
Highways Chief Engineer Jawahar Muthuraj said the department will undertake road construction and girder placement within its land limits. However, the section passing above the railway tracks will be handled by Southern Railway.
“The stretch crossing the railway tracks will be done by Southern Railway. They are sourcing the girders from their yard in Arakkonam,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
Once completed, the width of the overbridge will increase from 27 metres to 53 metres, with footpaths on both sides. The adjoining approach roads will also be widened to five lanes with a central median. The work will be completed by April.
The Padi ROB lies between Villivakkam and Korattur railway stations and currently represents a critical choke point on the Inner Ring Road.
Although much of the arterial road between Manali and Guindy already has five lanes in each direction, a 1.1 km stretch near Padi narrows sharply, reducing to just two lanes close to the railway station and frequently triggering traffic jams and accidents.
In addition to the bridge expansion, the Highways Department is also constructing two U-shaped service roads beneath the Villivakkam ROB for Rs 14 crore.
The 7.5-metre-wide roads will allow vehicles to make U-turns towards North Korattur and Padi without entering the busy junction.
Once operational, these service roads are expected to reduce congestion around the North Korattur signal and help light vehicles bypass the intersection.
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is carrying out parallel widening works along other stretches of the Inner Ring Road to further improve traffic flow across Chennai.
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