Chennai high-speed circular transportation corridor snippets

The much-awaited “Chennai high-speed circular transportation corridor,” which includes the blueprint for the bus rapid transport system (BRTS), is likely to have only one layer and not two or three as proposed earlier. According to sources in the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Fund (TNUDF), the draft feasibility report is likely to be submitted next week. Work on the first phase of the corridor, from Adyar to Porur, will begin with the preparation of a project report after the draft feasibility report is finalised. Wilbur Smith Associates, commissioned by state-owned Adyar Poonga Trust (APT) will submit the report. “The draft feasibility report got delayed because we had to take the finalisation of the Metro Rail alignment and some flyover projects into consideration. We will finalise the report in a month after scrutiny,’’ TNUDF sources said. Earlier, the proposal was to make the transport corridor into a three-layered corridor with the topmost layer exclusively for BRTS. The first and second layer was envisaged for all other vehicles. But, many road safety campaigners and activists opposed this proposal during the public consultations held by TNUDF in June this year. Many said that the third layer would have be built at 50 ft height from the ground and this would make it difficult for people to reach the topmost layer in order to board buses. The revised draft feasibility report proposes a six-lane, single-layer elevated circular corridor, with the central two lanes dedicated to BRTS. There are various plans being considered for the single-level elevated corridor, including setting up of bus stations along the elevated road and providing feeder services to connect them with existing bus stops beneath and lifts for people to reach the elevated highway. The proposed 47-kmlong alignment consists of three river bank corridors along the Adyar river, Buckingham Canal and Mambalam Canal and two road corridors along Mount-Poonamallee Road and Inner Ring Road. Beginning at Adyar, the route is proposed to cover Saidapet, Jafferkhanpet, Porur, Puzhal, Manali and Central Station. The Adyar corridor will go up to Ramavaram and from there along Mount-Poonamallee Road to connect with Chennai Bypass. The project is estimated to cost between Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000 crore. “While the corridor will ease traffic congestion on arterial roads like Anna Salai, Sardar Patel Road, Inner Ring Road and Poonamallee High Road, BRTS will be a boon for public transport,’’ sources said.