It was only in the last issue of Madras Musings that we had reported that the elevated road along the Adyar may be scrapped. But it now appears that the road is still on the anvil but with important modifications along the area close to where high profile real estate developments are taking place. It transpires that the road will not be elevated along this stretch of 1.5 km near the Tiru Vi Ka Bridge, but will rise to an elevated level along the subsequent stretches.

Certain other modifications have also been made, though not due to the protests of those whose homes and means of livelihood will be affected by the elevated road. The first is that the idea of a three-tier structure for the road has been given up. It will be remembered that the earlier proposal was for the dedicated bus lane being on the top-most tier and this was questioned on grounds of safety by experts. It has now been decided that the elevated road will be a normal six-lane thoroughfare with the middle lanes being dedicated to buses. How bus passengers will cross the road in safety to get to its pavements is, of course, a mystery without an answer. It remains also to be seen as to how such a system will work in a city that is completely lacking in lane discipline. With an elevated road encouraging people to drive at high speeds, mishaps are bound to occur when lanes are switched at will.

The second change is that instead of moving in the Mount-Poonamallee direction, the road will now turn near Kunrathur and join the Chennai Bypass Road. The road will ascend further in height at Saidapet and Jaffarkhanpet to provide leeway for the MRTS which is already in existence. At Saidapet and near the Defence Colony, foot overbridges have been proposed to enable people to reach the Bus Rapid Transport System which is also on the cards. Such foresight is good and it shows that our authorities are finally coming to grips with an integrated transport system, but it remains to be seen how many people really use foot overbridges. In places where these are already provided they remain largely unused and, like subways, become havens for all kinds of rackets such as organised begging and abandoning of mentally challenged people.

Estimated to cost around Rs. 1400 crore, the road will be supported in its elevated section by piers of which at least one side will be in the Adyar river bed right up to Ramavaram. This is clearly repeating what happened with the MRTS and the Buckingham Canal and may spell the end of the Adyar River as we know it in the city. It also puts paid to ideas of using the river for navigation.

Interestingly, several public consultations were held before this plan was finalised and not one of the suggestions of the affected parties has been incorporated. It is being touted that the proposed road is in the best interest of those using vehicles and will enable speedy movement of traffic. And that means a miniscule section of our city’s population. What about the rest? And, in particular, what about the loss of livelihood of many living along the river who were providing domestic services to many of the high-profile colonies and gated communities in the area? The authorities say that these people will be relocated. But at what cost? And where? Will they be able to commute to work on a daily basis? These are questions that remain unanswered.