Widening of part of GST Road begins

More than a decade after Grand Southern Trunk Road was last widened within the city limits, in the suburbs and beyond, work has finally commenced on widening a 1.5-km stretch of the national highway.

The work on the stretch between Tambaram and a road overbridge at Irumbuliyur began last week with the State highways department bringing down buildings and shops. More than 50 families have surrendered their property acquired by the government for the work, which is expected to be completed in three months.

GST Road (NH45) was widened beyond Irumbuliyur as part of the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ project of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) more than 10 years ago. The stretch between Tambaram and Kathipara too was widened by the highways department. However, this small stretch was neglected for long, residents said.

They recalled that it was in October 2013 that the State government allotted Rs. 43 crore for widening the stretch and a year later, acquisition of property began. Residents of Irumbuliyur had protested on several occasions, demanding acceleration of work on land acquisition and road widening.

R. Krishnaveni, a resident of Suddhananda Bharathi Street in Irumbuliyur, said the proposal for widening the road was footed as early as in 2008, when about 70 properties were marked for acquisition. .

Activist Aanai Panneerselvam said it was long-pending and much-needed work that should be completed on time.

Officials said they had begun to realign the road width by shifting medians, constructing stormwater drains and pavements. They have also written to Tangedco for relocating lampposts on the stretch from Chennai Bypass Road till Civil Lines. Once this was completed, civil works for road construction would start, they said.

The road narrows suddenly between the road overbridge at Irumbuliyur and the police check post, with its width reduced to just 5.5 metres at one spot. It has become one of the most accident-prone spots on the highway. The road, previously under the NHAI, was handed over to the State highways department only a few years ago.