Crawford ROB to be opened for traffic by Jan End
The new road overbridge (ROB) coming up across the
railway level-crossing at Crawford in the city is likely to be thrown
open for traffic by the end of this month.
Construction
of the ROB has reached the final stage and currently, blacktopping of
approach road is under way. However, laying of service lanes on either
side of the ROB will take more time to complete as the land acquisition
process is yet to be completed, sources in the Highways Department said.
“We
will be completing the blacktopping work soon and plan to open the
bridge for traffic before the end of this month,” a senior official of
the Highways Department told The Hindu on Friday.
The
project that commenced in April 2011, has been moving at a tardy pace,
much to the resentment of thousands of residents of Crawford,
Edamalaipattipudur, and several other colonies. Residents have been
subjected to much hardship over the past two years on account of the
closure of the Crawford road to facilitate the construction of the
bridge that connects the railway junction and the Madurai highway.
Commuters, including school children, have been forced to take a detour
through a temporary alternative road via Anbu Nagar, and more
importantly, they have been cut from the direct access to public
transport.
The ROB was sanctioned at a cost of Rs.
28.58 crore, excluding the Railways’ contribution for the bridge portion
over the level-crossing. About Rs. 5.50 crore was earmarked for land
acquisition and shifting of utilities.
Welcoming the
opening of the ROB, H. Ghouse Baig, a resident of Crawford and
secretary, Golden Rock Branch of Consumer Protection Council, Tamil
Nadu, however, appealed to the Highways Department to expedite work on
building the service roads, and complete it at the earliest.
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