The Tamil Nadu Highways Department has initiated the construction of a new six-lane steel bridge over the Buckingham Canal. This bridge will create a much-needed direct link between Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and East Coast Road (ECR), two of the city’s most vital arterial roads.
The project, with an estimated outlay of ₹37 crore, is set to offer a significant relief to daily commuters, particularly those residing in densely populated localities like Thoraipakkam and Neelankarai, where the absence of adequate east-west connectivity has long strained road traffic and urban mobility. Currently, the only existing thoroughfares connecting OMR and ECR are located at Thiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur, a full 11 kilometres apart, forcing lakhs of daily commuters to detour through congested junctions. The proposed steel bridge is expected to substantially reduce traffic density by diverting nearly 40 percent of vehicles from key choke points such as the OMR-Pallavaram Thoraipakkam Radial Road Junction, Sholinganallur, and Thiruvanmiyur.
The 36-metre-long high-level structure will be built with a vertical clearance of 4 metres above the canal’s flood level, ensuring the uninterrupted navigation of boats — a crucial aspect that received the nod from the Inland Waterways Authority of India, reflecting a conscious integration of water-based transit with road infrastructure. The bridge forms a key part of a larger 1.4-kilometre link road that starts from Neelankarai on the ECR side, traverses the canal, and ends at the OMR-Pallavaram Radial Road Junction through Thoraipakkam. The first phase of the road — approximately 850 metres on the OMR side — has already been completed. Authorities are now gearing up for the next phase, which includes clearing encroachments on Water Resources Department land. Importantly, the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board will oversee the resettlement of affected households, a move that aligns with equitable urban planning norms and underlines the state’s commitment to humane relocation policies during infrastructure development.
Urban planners view this development as more than just a traffic relief measure — it is a strategic link that will eventually integrate major city roads like GST Road, Mount-Madipakkam Road, and Velachery-Tambaram Road into a unified transit network. Such seamless connectivity not only improves commute times but also encourages a shift towards more decentralised residential and commercial development along these corridors. By minimising bottlenecks and shortening travel distances, the bridge could indirectly curb vehicular emissions, offering a small yet critical step toward a lower carbon footprint in a city where transport remains a significant contributor to air pollution.
While the construction will necessitate temporary adjustments for some communities, the long-term benefits of this bridge project appear promising for the city’s growing population. If executed with sustainable practices and sensitivity to ecological impact, the steel bridge across Buckingham Canal may well become a model for climate-conscious infrastructure development in urban India.
Steel Bridge in Chennai to Reduce Chennai Traffic and Improve Connectivity
