The Chennai Corporation is preparing to call for tenders for a consultancy project to look into a massive flyover project to connect two flyovers on Usman Road, and extend them all the way to Mount Road. An earlier consultancy tender for this project had failed to turn up affordable consultants, and the new tender is expected to be floated soon. Work is already underway to look into the feasibility and finalise project specifics of five other flyovers in different parts of the city.
The Corporation administration had announced in its annual budget for 2012-12 that it would take up studies for seven flyover projects (see box). The biggest of these seven proposed projects is the one on Usman Road, which officials say would create a thoroughfare across one of the most congested zones in the city.
The project has been envisioned to link the Mahalingapuram – North Usman Road Flyover with the South Usman Road Flyover, and extending it to reach Mount Road. This would mean the entire Usman Road stretch, measuring roughly 3.3 km, would be covered by a traffic flyover.
The consultancy contracts for the studies and reports on the proposed projects have been divided into three packages, with the Usman Road project forming a package on its own. The price quoted by consultants had been too high during the first tender call, and the Corporation is now preparing to call for another tender.
Studies are currently being conducted on five other projects by two consultants – EGIS India Consulting Engineers and Stup Consultants. Preliminary reports of these studies are expected to be presented to the Corporation top brass in a few weeks.
The plan to commission a study into the feasibility of a flyover at the Royapettah Clock Tower Junction has been put on hold, say officials. “CMRL work is going on in the area, and traffic diversions have been put in place. This means we can’t effectively study traffic patterns. So, we have decided to put the entire project on hold till work is completed in the zone,” says an official.
The consultants have been asked to complete their study and present Detailed Project Reports in six months time, the official added.
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