Chennai: Residents of North Chennai can anticipate relief from the persistent traffic snarls as the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans to construct a new railway overbridge (RoB) at the accident-prone Korukkupet rail crossing. The proposed two-lane RoB, designed for light vehicles, will connect Kannan Street to Ennore High Road, just beyond the Korukkupet railway station.
For years, local residents have endured wait times of 20 to 30 minutes whenever railway gates close for suburban and express trains, leading to chaotic traffic conditions. This congestion has occasionally turned perilous, exemplified by a tragic incident in 2019 when a woman and her children were struck by a train from Nellore while illegally crossing the tracks on a scooter.
Previous efforts to construct an underpass were thwarted due to the presence of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) pipelines beneath the tracks. However, the new RoB, featuring a bow-string girder setup, promises to address these longstanding issues. “The RoB will be constructed on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis with the railway. The railway will build the bridge with a bow-string girder, while GCC will handle the approach. The exact length of the bridge is yet to be determined, pending land procurement studies for accurate elevation,” explained a GCC official from the Tondiarpet zone.
Currently, residents are forced to take a 3-4 km detour via Tondiarpet’s Vaidhyanathan RoB to reach Kodungaiyur, Perambur, and Vyasarpadi. The upcoming RoB, intended for light vehicles, is expected to significantly improve local travel efficiency. This project marks GCC’s second RoB initiative in Korukkupet, with the first one already in progress.
Civic activist R Ramesh from Old Washermenpet emphasised the importance of timely completion: “The RoB construction must be expedited and the deadline must be met.” The introduction of this overbridge is poised to enhance the daily commute for thousands of residents, reducing wait times and enhancing safety at one of the city’s most problematic rail crossings. The collaboration between GCC and the railway authorities underscores a concerted effort to improve urban infrastructure and address the growing demands of Chennai’s expanding population.
