The construction of a road bridge over the Uppar drain has led to severe traffic jams on the Kamaraj Salai thoroughfare in Puducherry. | Photo credit: KUMAR SS
The construction of a road bridge (ROB) over the Uppar drain on the busy Kamaraj Salai has brought daily traffic to a crawl, especially near the GRT junction, with commuters facing delays and traffic jams that spill over to Thiruvalluvar Salai.
Originally conceived in 2005-06 to connect the busy Kamaraj Salai and Maraimalai Adigal Salai arterials, the Road Bridge (ROB) had been burning for several years due to various reasons including administrative lapses, arbitration and lack of funds.
The ₹29.25 crore project was revived last year, after a delay of nearly two decades, with one side of the road already blocked for construction. While traffic congestion has already increased during peak hours, residents fear the situation could worsen once schools reopen.
According to G. Kumaravelu, a resident, “This stretch is a perfect example of how poor planning and slow execution can cripple traffic on the highway. When traffic jams are at their peak during peak hours, the presence of the traffic police is often not visible. They have dug up the road extensively and left it in a terrible state. There is no coordination and the entire stretch has become a mess.”
According to M. Bhaskar, “Vehicles converging from 45 feet Road and Thiruvalluvar Salai at this junction are causing chaos. The completion of the ROB may take a few more months and residents will have to bear the brunt. Worse than the traffic jams is the heavy dust pollution from the construction site, which is causing major problems to road users.”
The bridge was designed to be 732 meters long with a capacity of two lanes. When construction stopped in 2019, 632 meters of the bridge had been completed and the section connecting the bridge to a point near Newton Theater on Maraimalai Adigal Salai remained incomplete.
The ROB is to ensure two-lane traffic with a 7.5-meter roadway and 1.5-meter elevated sidewalks on both sides. Service channels will also be built under the pavement. Together with the construction of bridges, work was also done on strengthening the sewer to increase its transport capacity. The drainage system along the ROB would also be strengthened, the official added.
According to a police official, “The stretch witnesses frequent VIP movement and since one side of the road is used for two-way traffic, congestion has become rampant during peak hours. The reopening of schools could increase traffic pressure on the stretch. Right now, we have deployed additional personnel on the stretch. The only solution is to complete the work as soon as possible.”
Published – 10 May 2026 17:23 IST
