Residents of the western suburbs are calling for the regulation of spaces under overpasses

Sources in the road ministry said steps would be taken to clear the encroachments. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Residents of the western suburbs, including Pattabiram, Thandurai and Thiruninravur, have urged the Roads Department to regulate the spaces under flyovers and service lanes, which are mostly encroached by vendors.

Poor maintenance

Motorists also complained about lack of maintenance like painting of railway bridges in Thiruninravur, Veppampattu, Thandurai and Pattabiram.

Thandurai resident KS Gopalakrishnan said several shops were occupying space on the service lanes of the flyover that replaced the LC-10 railway gate in their area, creating traffic jams in the morning and evening hours.

“Several two-wheelers belonging to customers occupy the remaining space, causing inconvenience to residents of these localities, including Gopalapuram and Vallalar Nagar. Ambulances, cars and even autorickshaws find it difficult to navigate on these roads. Even commuter trains from the nearby Pattabiram station park their vehicles here,” he said.

Those encroachments under the bridge and along the service lanes had been there for almost 15 years without any intervention from the agency, another resident said. Jayaraman of Pattabiram said the recently completed flyover at Veppampattu and the one under construction at LC2 Pattabiram Railway Siding also had hits. “There is not much lighting under these bridges, which leads to all sorts of unwanted activities. Foods appear without any permission. People are afraid to go to such areas after dark because there is absolutely no police,” said a resident.

Rights of road users

Consumer activist T. Sadagopan said there is a need to regulate shops and parking spaces under flyovers and service lanes. “People talk about the rights of vendors, but what about the rights of road users, for whom these facilities were primarily created? We would like some greenery and walks under these flyovers, not illegal shops. The flyovers should also be decorated with murals and murals like those inside the city. There are shops built by the Avadi Corporation that remain empty because the rents are exorbitant to the Greatenna Street Corporation.” Sources in the road department said that steps will be taken to remove the encroachments along with the local body, police and revenue department.

Published – 07 Oct 2026 05:30 IST