OMR–ECR Steel Bridge Project to Improve Chennai’s Coastal Connectivity

The Tamil Nadu government has moved a step closer to strengthening Chennai’s coastal road network with the commencement of groundwork for the long-awaited OMR–ECR steel bridge project. The project, led by the Tamil Nadu Highways Department, aims to significantly improve east–west connectivity by directly linking Rajiv Gandhi Salai, popularly known as OMR, with the East Coast Road.
To facilitate the start of construction, a total of 121 families are being relocated from the project alignment. Of these, 58 families living along the banks of the Buckingham Canal at Thoraipakkam and 63 families residing on patta lands on the Neelankarai side will be shifted. The relocation process is being coordinated with the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, while beneficiary enumeration and notices have already been completed by the Greater Chennai Corporation.

The proposed six-lane high-level steel bridge will be built at an estimated cost of approximately ₹36 crore. Designed with a vertical clearance of about four metres from the high tide line, the bridge will allow uninterrupted movement of boats beneath, addressing both transport and waterway requirements. The bridge forms a critical component of the larger ₹270 crore OMR–ECR connectivity project, which also includes approach roads and supporting infrastructure.

According to officials, all statutory clearances, including approvals from the Inland Waterway Authority, the Water Resources Department, and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, have been secured. Once relocation is completed, a 680-metre stretch of road will be extended to the bridge take-off point from the Pallavaram–Thoraipakkam Radial Road, ensuring seamless integration with existing arterial routes.

Land acquisition has been one of the most capital-intensive aspects of the project, with costs alone touching around ₹200 crore. Civil works, including road laying and bridge construction, are estimated at another ₹70 crore. Despite legal challenges on the Neelankarai side, where a few landowners have approached the courts, officials remain confident of progressing the project following judicial orders.

Resident welfare associations have broadly welcomed the project, citing improved access between IT corridors and coastal neighbourhoods. However, they have also urged authorities to prioritise pedestrian safety by providing footpaths, foot overbridges, and escalator-equipped crossings along the radial road. With new residential developments emerging along the corridor, the bridge is expected to play a key role in easing congestion, supporting real estate growth, and enhancing overall urban mobility in south Chennai.