Greater Chennai Corporation plans to build a cable-stayed bridge across the Adyar

GCC initiates construction of cable-stayed bridge in Chennai to reduce traffic congestion, inviting tenders for feasibility study.

To reduce traffic congestion, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has initiated steps to construct a cable-stayed bridge across the Adyar, connecting Srinivasapuram and Urur Kuppam and replacing Broken Bridge.

A cable-stayed bridge, such as the Signature Bridge in Delhi and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, features a deck or carriageway and pavements that are supported by cables. These cables are directly connected to tall towers rising above the deck, known as pylons. Notably, a similar structure, which is 156 m long and 3 m wide, is being built near Tholkappia Poonga or Adyar Eco Park.

“This type of bridge was chosen for aesthetic reasons since it will look better than a regular bridge across the Adyar, one of the city’s prominent waterways. The previous Broken Bridge was only a foot overbridge i.e., a pedestrian walkway. The materials to be used, cost estimate, and width and length of the deck, etc., are yet to be decided as the plan is still in the initial stages,” a GCC official said.

The GCC has invited tenders for the selection of a consultant to prepare a Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) for the project for ₹20 lakh. The civic body specified that the DFR must adhere to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH), the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

If needed, international standards, such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America standards, can be referenced, a GCC document related to the project read. The consultant must form a multidisciplinary team, comprising highway and traffic engineers, structural and bridge engineers, and quantity surveyors, it added.

The consultant will be responsible for conducting topographical and traffic surveys and limited geotechnical investigations. The consultant must analyse traffic data, prepare alternative proposals, secure approval for the feasible option, and prepare general arrangement drawings for the approved design, the GCC said.

The GCC, in the document, said the new bridge would help reduce traffic congestion on Greenways Road and the Santhome stretch in Mylapore. The area is lined with official residences, educational institutions, and recreational zones, leading to frequent traffic bottlenecks. The proposed bridge aims to restore connectivity between Besant Nagar and Foreshore Estate, it said.