Work on Pattabiram Road Overbridge Set to Finish in 3 Months After Fresh ₹13.5 Cr Sanction

The ROB nearly 9 months ago, opened one arm for traffic on the Chennai-Tirupati NH 205 and remains incomplete, causing daily hardships for commuters. Now, the Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned ₹13.5 crore to finish off the remaining stretch, and the expected time for completion of work is two to three months.

The ROB was approved way back in 2011 but got delayed due to several land acquisition hurdles and the Covid-19 pandemic, only to begin construction in 2018. The ₹78.35 crore project, initially funded in 2022, aimed at replacing the level crossing between Pattabiram and Pattabiram Military Siding stations with a six-lane, 780-metre-long and 11-metre-wide overbridge.

Only around 100 metres of the structure remains unfinished. Officials from the NABARD and Rural Roads wing of the State Highways Department said work is underway in coordination with the Railways. “We are on track to finish the remaining portion in the coming months. The site posed multiple engineering and logistical challenges,” said one official.

The already operational arm, opened on September 25, 2024, has three lanes across 5.5 metres and is currently handling two-way traffic via a central median. Nevertheless, temporary works created huge bottlenecks, especially for road traffic going to Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, and Tirupati.

Local people and activists have raised serious allegations on safety grounds. Civic activist T Sadagopan noted that the ROB ramp merges directly with the main carriageway of CTH Road near Ambattur, creating a high-risk zone. He also flagged the absence of a promised roundabout near the Pattabiram Police Station and a lack of pedestrian access, such as stairs or escalators.

“After 20 years of waiting, we’re glad the bridge exists, but its incomplete state continues to disrupt daily life,” Sadagopan said.

Motorist S Richard from Korattur added, “Lane switching near the ROB is sudden and dangerous. Without full completion and better traffic control, accidents are inevitable.”

The project’s completion now hinges on the swift deployment of the newly sanctioned funds.