[1]With the delay in shifting of a water pipeline, work on construction of the flyover at the Mount Poonamallee Road and Arcot Salai junction, known as the Porur junction, has come to a halt.
Work was suspended after the Chennai Metro Water failed to shift a drinking water pipeline from Chembarambakkam Lake, which runs under the Mount Poonamallee Road.
The state Highways department has awarded the contract for constructing the Rs35-crore flyover after completing land acquisition. “But the water pipeline running under the road came in the way of flyover work. To avoid paying idling charges to the contractor, the contract was foreclosed,” said a Highways department official.
Metro Water was not able to find a contractor to shift the pipelines. “We have paid Metro Water around Rs6.25 crore for shifting the lines. We will be able to begun our work only if they shift their lines,” said the official.
Metro Water sources said that they were not able award the tender as the amounts quoted by the contractor were too high. “We are hoping to award the tender by October. It will take at least six months for us to complete the work,” sources said.
Once Metro Water begins its work, the Highways Department will float a fresh tender to award the flyover work. “It will take at least a year for us to finish the flyover construction work,” an official said.
The roads leading to the junction are in a terrible condition, making life more miserable for motorists. “At least the Highways should relay the damaged road till they complete the flyover work as it would ease traffic,” said Mr K. Gangadharan, a resident of Poonamallee.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/porurjpgcropdisplayjpg-752