Chennai: While flyovers in the city ease traffic, the spaces beneath them have often been dumping grounds, unauthorised vending spots and parking zones. Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) Special Projects Wing will revamp the underbellies of 10 flyovers into public spaces with parks, walking tracks and parking lots with EV charging facilities.For residents of T Nagar, the space beneath the Kalaivanar flyover on G N Chetty Road and the North Usman Road flyover will be developed with parking for 10 cars and 40 two-wheelers each. While the Kalaivanar flyover will also get a walking track and a children’s play area, the North Usman Road flyover will get 20 EV charging points and public restrooms.The Alwarpet flyover, too, will get zigzag parking bays, and the Doveton flyover in Purasawalkam will also get parking facilities. The parking will be free of cost.Beneath the MRTS bridge along Sivananda Salai, the civic body plans to set up a children’s park with play equipment, including a monkey climber, an infinity walkway, a parents’ seating gallery and designer benches. The remaining flyovers — the Music Academy flyover in R K Salai, the Peters Road–Conon Smith Road flyover, the Rangarajapuram flyover, and the flyovers in G.K. Moopanar Salai and Pantheon Road — will get seating areas and decorative lighting.“Every location has different requirements, so the designs have been planned accordingly, depending on the available space,” an official from Special Projects said. “One of the biggest challenges is clearing encroachments. People living under the flyovers have been shifted to shelter homes. Work will be completed by August,” the official added.Residents, however, said the city could think beyond parks and walking tracks. “Cities such as Indore and Hyderabad have transformed spaces beneath flyovers into sports hubs. Chennai could also explore similar initiatives,” Narasiman R., a resident of PNK Garden Main Road, said. “Many private turfs are expensive. These facilities could be given at a subsidised rate,” he added.D Balaji, a frequent visitor to the existing Indira Nagar MRTS flyover park, said CCTV cameras and regular police patrols are essential to ensure safety. “GCC can also install more fountains; it helps keep the area cool and reduce dust,” he said. The maintenance of these structures will be done by the contractor for one year, after which the respective zonal office will take over upkeep and ensure public safety.
