Chennai Sanctions ₹13.5 Crore to Complete Pattabiram Road Overbridge Project
Chennai’s long-delayed Pattabiram road overbridge (ROB) has received a fresh boost, with ₹13.5 crore sanctioned for completing the unfinished second arm. While one arm of the ROB opened to the public nine months ago, the remaining stretch continues to inconvenience commuters along the busy Chennai–Tirupati National Highway 205. Officials claim work is progressing in coordination with the Railways and will be completed within three months. However, residents and motorists highlight serious safety and traffic concerns caused by the incomplete structure and poorly planned interim traffic flow.
Initially envisioned as a six-lane, 780-metre overpass to replace a level crossing near Pattabiram and Pattabiram Military Siding, the ROB was sanctioned in 2011 and began construction only in 2018. Delays due to land acquisition issues, cost escalations, and the Covid-19 pandemic have stretched the timeline. Currently, only one arm, 5.5 metres wide, is operational with makeshift arrangements for two-way traffic. The road narrows dangerously at key points, forcing motorists—especially buses and trucks—to slow or swerve, leading to frequent traffic pile-ups and increased accident risk. Commuters heading to Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, and Tirupati from Chennai complain that the ROB’s incomplete segment creates a bottleneck on CTH Road, especially near the merging zone. The absence of a planned roundabout near Pattabiram Police Station has worsened the situation.
Additionally, safety infrastructure such as pedestrian stairways and ramps from the rail level is missing. Locals argue that while the bridge serves its basic function, its unfinished state negates much of its potential benefit and compromises daily travel safety for thousands. State highway officials assert that the delay is not unusual given the technical complexities involved. They say the ROB is being constructed under difficult circumstances in collaboration with Indian Railways, and the remaining 100 metres of the structure should be completed within the next few months. Nevertheless, civic observers question why such gaps in planning and execution persist in vital infrastructure projects. They also stress that timely updates, pedestrian access, and lane discipline mechanisms should have been integrated into the original design.
The Pattabiram ROB reflects a broader trend in urban infrastructure delivery: slow implementation, lack of safety foresight, and reactive rather than proactive planning. With ₹78.35 crore already spent and a decade-long wait behind it, completing the final phase should not only focus on structural finishing but also include inclusive features for commuters on foot, improved signage, and stricter traffic regulation. As cities like Chennai grow, the quality of urban life increasingly hinges on such transport corridors being both efficient and safe for all users.
