Rain forces open 2 flyovers without launch

CHENNAI: Cyclone Nada may not have brought the city the heavy rain that sank Chennai a year ago but it forced officials to open two flyovers in the city.
The corporation on Thursday opened flyovers in Vadapalani and Retteri to the public to help ease possible traffic jams due to waterlogging at both junctions.
The corporation started work on the Rs 52.72-crore Retteri flyover in October 2014 and completed construction within two years.The threelane flyover is 1km long, all told, with a ramp of 365m and an approach road to both Koyambedu and Madhavaram of 175m each. Engineers are currently working on grade separators for the flyover and masons have started foundation work on the structure, highways department officials said. The flyovers will save motorists heading from Ashok Pillar to Koyambedu and vice-versa a long wait at the traffic lights. A police officer said vehicles on 100 Feet Road were moving faster with Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) completing work on the stretch.
“With the new flyover opened to traffic on Thursday, motorists no more have to negotiate past traffic snarls,“ the officer said. “Most motorists traverse the stretch between Koyambedu and Kathipara in less than 30 minutes.“
The corporation had a month ago come close to completing work on the two flyovers, but the CM could not inaugurate them.