Title - Work set to begin on road overbridge in Tiruvottiyur

The Highways Department has issued a work order for the construction of a Rs. 47-crore road overbridge, to replace level crossing 3 in Maattu Mandhai, Tiruvottiyur.

This is the second time a work order is being issued to a contractor for this project, which will improve connectivity between Tiruvottiyur and Manali. Last year, at around the same time, the work order had been issued to another contractor but he did not sign the agreement owing to some problems, and the order had to be cancelled.

Administrative sanction for the 550 metre-long, 13.2 metre-wide road overbridge (ROB) was issued sometime in 2011, officials said.

Sources in the department said the delay in finalising a contractor had occurred as many contractors had not evinced interest in the project, believing construction work in north Chennai to be somewhat difficult.

“Residents will demand work but not report for duty. They will not have the skills to work in the construction industry but will demand high wages. Incidents of theft at construction sites are also not uncommon,” said a contractor.

The tender for this project was finally settled after nine calls. Officials said the contractor has 24 months time to complete the work. The project is being jointly executed by the highways and Southern Railway, as 34.8 metres of the ROB will run over railway tracks. This portion will be constructed by Southern Railway.

Residents of Tiruvottiyur have expressed happiness over the settlement of the tender and are hoping the work will be completed on time.

V. Rajkumar, a local resident, said many projects, including widening of the Tiruvottiyur High Road have been delayed. “Once the ROB is constructed, it will help us reach 100 Feet Road faster. At present, we either have to take a circuitous route through Ernavur or wait for the railway gates to open, which sometimes takes quite a while,” he said.

Though the tender has been settled, land acquisition for the project is yet to be completed. A total of 1,640 sq. metres is required on the Manali side and 2,619 sq. metres on the Tiruvottiyur side.

“We need the land before we can commence construction work. As the ROB is coming up on an existing road, service lanes have to be formed to allow free flow of traffic. On the Manali side, the revenue department will soon finish the formalities and we will take possession in about 20 days. On the Tiruvottiyur side, plots of land belonging to three temples are required. Two temples have issued ‘no objection’ certificates, and we are waiting for the third one. Removal of encroachments also has to be carried out,” explained an official.