Two new unidirectional flyovers have been approved along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).
These projects are expected to significantly improve vehicular flow from Velachery towards Thiruvanmiyur, Thoraipakkam and Sholinganallur—three of the city’s busiest urban sectors. The flyovers will be constructed at SRP Tools Junction and Perungudi, synchronised with the ongoing Metro Rail work under Corridor 3, which links Madhavaram and Siruseri. With a sanctioned budget of ₹90 crore, the flyovers are set to be developed without requiring land acquisition—an advantage that will likely speed up project timelines. Yet, while the infrastructure promises long-term relief, immediate concerns linger over how the construction will impact an already congested OMR, particularly during monsoon months when traffic slows to a crawl. The proposed SRP Tools Junction flyover will stretch 760 metres and incorporate a unique double-bent design with two sharp 90-degree turns. Vehicles travelling from Velachery will be able to bypass signals by using the flyover ramp, allowing for left and right turns that seamlessly connect to LB Road in Thiruvanmiyur. The structure is expected to ease chronic bottlenecks at the junction and provide Thoraipakkam-bound traffic with a signal-free turn—an overdue reprieve in a notoriously congested corridor.
Meanwhile, the second flyover near the Apollo Hospital Junction in Perungudi will span 615 metres and offer a free right-turn option for vehicles from Velachery and Law University heading onto OMR. Designed as a one-and-a-half-lane flyover, it will pass beneath the elevated metro viaduct. The challenge here lies in space constraints on MGR Road, which demand precise engineering to avoid obstructing ongoing metro operations and direct traffic flow. Currently, right-turning vehicles are forced to take a long detour, driving nearly 500 metres to execute a U-turn—a manoeuvre that creates long queues and adds to fuel consumption and emissions. The new flyover, once completed, would eliminate this inefficiency and contribute to smoother, cleaner urban mobility. Authorities say the designs have been finalised in close coordination with the city’s traffic police, and tendering is underway. With no land acquisition hurdles and public infrastructure already in place, construction is anticipated to begin promptly.
However, the dual construction flyovers and metro poses short-term risks of traffic snarls, especially given the narrow lanes and limited diversion options on OMR. Residents and commuters have expressed both hope and concern. While the long-term vision of improved connectivity and reduced signal stops is welcomed, many fear that the already gridlocked OMR could become nearly unmanageable during the construction phase. Civic planners are thus being urged to roll out a robust traffic diversion plan to prevent the area from descending into chaos. For Chennai, these flyovers are not just road infrastructure—they are symbols of a city recalibrating its mobility future. As part of a wider agenda to build sustainable, zero-net-carbon, and inclusive urban spaces, the flyovers represent an effort to blend mobility solutions with ongoing mass transit expansion. If executed efficiently, the project could be a blueprint for integrating flyovers within metro corridors without compromising commuter convenience or environmental priorities. But if mismanaged, it risks becoming yet another urban traffic miscalculation.
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