Minister Velu Urges Faster Completion of 3.2-km Elevated Corridor on Anna Salai

The much-awaited 3.2-km elevated corridor from Saidapet to Teynampet in Chennai is on the right track and testing methods of construction were undertaken to ensure stability over the Chennai Metro Rail tunnel. Highways Minister E.V. Velu, who inspected the site on Sunday, has urged the contractor to speed up the project to adhere to timelines.

Soil Reinforcement Techniques Using Modern Materials

The ₹621-crore project is pioneering the use of rubberiZed geo-grids, geo-cells and geo-synthetics to strengthen the soil above the tunnel. M-sand is being filled in geo-grids at over 50 locations and compacted with the help of water. Minister Velu also reassured that Mine Stabilisation was a soil strengthening technique that was rigorously tested and approved by the Department of Soil Mechanics of IIT Bombay and this technique had been witnessed as a first of its kind for a structure above an underground metro tunnel.

Construction in Three Crucial Stretch

Officials of the Highways Department said that the 14-metre-wide corridor is being constructed in three different stretches.

• 655 meters without a tunnel underneath, backed up by 22 pile foundations.

• 1,955-meter tall structure be stabilized across the tunnel with 69 micropiles.

• 460-metre at Teynampet and Nandanam Metro stations with portal frames for support.

Steel Columns: Lighter + Faster Construction

The use of steel columns instead of conventional concrete columns saves structural weight and speeds the construction. The pre-fabricated columns will hasten assembly and weigh one-third less than concrete. This process, however, is now 20% more expensive. So, the project was launched by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in January 2024.

Freeing Up Traffic for 2.37 Lakh Drivers

Once it is completed, the corridor will enable vehicles to avoid seven prominent traffic junctions; including that at Eldams Road, SIET College, Cenotaph Road, Nandanam, and CIT Nagar, dramatically improving vehicular flow at one of the busiest roads in the city. The Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model is being used to implement the project.

The inspection was attended by senior officials such as Highways Secretary R. Selvaraj, Chief Engineer Sathyaprakash, and Special Technical Officer R. Chandrasekar.