Finish flyover, subway soon, says mayor

CHENNAI: Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy on Tuesday inspected two key projects -- a subway and a flyover -- that were progressing at snail’s pace in north Chennai and asked officials to complete them as early as possible.The vehicular subway at Villivakkam Railway level crossing and flyover at Mint Junction were running behind schedule for several months and the local residents had been making repeated pleas with the civic body to complete them to ease traffic congestion.On Tuesday, along with a battery of top officials, including the Commissioner PWC Davidar, he visited both the sites and took stock of the progress of work. Though the officials at the Villivakkam subway briefed the Mayor that the project would be completed by April-end, the Mayor ordered them to complete it by March 20.On completion, the two-way, 448-metre-long subway would considerably reduce traffic congestion from Villivakkam to Kolathur. Besides, it would also serve as a vital link for motorists during traffic snarls on Inner Ring Road. During his visit at Mint, officials told him that the project would be completed by August-end.