The work on the flyover is expected to be completed in February 2027
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
At about the same time in 2010 as the work on Rs. 54 crore Porur flyover began, the Highways department planned to construct a flyover on Anna Salai. While the Porur flyover was stopped after 10% of the work was completed due to two large water mains coming in the way, the work on the facility on Anna Salai that began in January 2024 has now slowed down at two station points. The Porur flyover was completely redesigned, and was inaugurated in 2017.
It was also in 2015 that Chennai Metrorail designed the diaphragm walls of two underground stations to withstand the load of a proposed flyover. “After we started construction of the four-lane wide flyover on Anna Salai in January 2024 and reached the station points, we found that the alignments did not match. We had to make changes in design and instead of constructing three columns with one in the centre, we have now brought it down to two columns on either side. This saves space on the carriageway,” explained an engineer associated with the project.
The ₹612 crore project did not stop for this change in design but instead slowed down only at station points that run to a combined length of 426 mts. The State government’s approval has been obtained for this change in design. There will be no additional cost,” he added.
“The rest of the work has been ongoing despite challenges with welding due to disruptions in the availability of gas. So far, we have completed 62% of the project that is slated to be completed in February 2027,” said another engineer.
On if a change of scope is allowed, the source explained that a change of scope of 10% is allowed in all infrastructure projects and in this instance, the deviation is only about 7.2%. IIT Madras has been conducting third party audits for the project.
During the construction of the flyover, shifting of utility services such as power cables, water mains, sewer mains, and telecommunication cables had to be done at 50 foundation locations. Shifting of street light poles had to be done for the entire length.
Of the total 132 spans, 42 spans are to come up at station locations alone. Soil stabilisation had to be taken up at 69 locations that are coming up above the Metrorail tunnels.
Published – August 29, 2026 05:30 am IST
