CHENNAI: The long traffic snarls at MGR Salai – Taramani Link Road junction and at Vijayanagar junction in Velachery could soon vanish. The twin projects near Velachery MRTS railway station – the incomplete service road connecting Taramani and St Thomas Mount stations and the subway that was being used as a swimming pool when it rained – are almost complete and likely to be thrown open for use by motorists by next month.
Once the service road is open, motorists coming from Old Mahabalipuram Road and getting onto MGR Salai need no longer take Taramani Link Road and suffer through unending traffic snarls at Vijaya Nagar bus terminus before reaching Velachery – St Thomas Mount link road to go to Alandur and beyond. They can take the service road running in front of Taramani MRTS railway station and reach their destinations including St Thomas Mount MRTS station and Alandur faster, said a source in Southern Railway.
The subway, which had been lying disused for many years, has been transformed into a motorable road. Storm water drains have been laid and a pump set kept ready to bail out stagnant water, said an official. Work on installing street lights is in progress, he added. A few small details need to be completed and are expected to be completed before the end of this month, he said.
The two projects, Velachery Annai Indira Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association president S Kumararaja said, will be a boon for motorists once they are thrown open, significantly reducing the travelling time between OMR and Alandur – St Thomas Mount. A few other residents in the area also voiced similar opinions, saying travelling on the stretch now was a nightmare, particularly during rush hours.
Those heading to the airport through Velachery – St Thomas Mount Link Road, passing Velachery and St Thomas Mount stations, can reach the airport faster, while the subway will help reach Madipakkam signal, after MRTS bridge on Velachery Main Road, faster, he said.