Chennai, 29 October (H.S.) : The Koyambedu flyover, a critical 1.15-kilometer stretch in Chennai, has become a major safety hazard for commuters, exhibiting significant signs of deterioration barely four years after its inauguration at a cost of ₹93 crores.

The entire structure is reportedly riddled with massive potholes, exposed joints, and dangerously protruding steel rods, raising serious concerns about its quality and durability.

Motorists and local reports highlight visible concrete peeling, particularly along the section connecting Koyambedu to the SAF Games Village and the ramp near the state election commission office. Attempts at patchwork have also failed, with the repaired sections quickly breaking down.

Experts have noted that a concrete flyover should ideally last at least a decade without major issues, suggesting that the rapid damage points to substandard materials—such as M-sand mixed with quarry dust—being used in its construction in 2021.

Highway officials, while acknowledging the exposed steel, have controversially claimed that it does not compromise the flyover's structural integrity. They have attributed the damage to minor water stagnation and the high volume of heavy trucks utilizing the flyover for the Koyambedu market. However, those involved in the project have faced allegations that the rapid decline is a result of poor construction quality.

Owing to growing public concern over the flyover's durability and the risk it poses to commuters, the Highways Department has promised to conduct a proper review of the structure. They have also indicated that repair work would be scheduled once the monsoon season concludes, aiming to address the hazardous conditions on this busy thoroughfare.

The structural issues of the Koyambedu flyover underscore the broader problem of poor road infrastructure and maintenance in Chennai.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary