Steel Bridge to Connect OMR and ECR at Thoraipakkam-Neelankarai Stretch

The Tamil Nadu State Highways Department has announced the construction of a new steel bridge connecting Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and East Coast Road (ECR), in a decision that is likely to greatly facilitate east-west vehicular movement in South Chennai. The bridge will also link Thoraipakkam on OMR to Neelankarai on ECR, offering a long poised connectivity between two arterial roads.

Currently, ECR and OMR are linked only at Tiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur — a stretch of almost 11 km. The new bridge will cut travel time decongest these junctions and also improve connectivity for the residential and commuting population in these fast-growing southern suburbs.

The project will construct a six-lane high-level steel bridge, 36 metres long, over the Buckingham Canal. The plan also includes small vehicular underpasses on both sides of the canal, bund roads to facilitate local traffic and approach roads that will connect to the bridge.

A tender for the construction work has already been floated, and the total project cost has been pegged at ₹37 crore. When completed, this bridge will be a vital link for daily commuters, IT professionals and residents along the Thoraipakkam-Neelankarai corridor.

As vital, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the bridge. The design allows for 4 metres of vertical clearance over the maximum flood level for boats on the canal of 2.70m above sea level, so the navigation of boats on the waterway is not interrupted.

The new roads will boost traffic while bringing valuable estates and SMEs to the areas in between both highways. Due to resume work soon on the steel bridge, it could potentially become a transit point on the ever-expanding urban landscape of Chennai.