OMR residents want foot overbridges to be repaired

Rust and corrosion are visible on the steel-pier footbridge along the OMR in Chennai, where passengers face slippery conditions during monsoons and handrails that heat up under the summer sun. | Photo Credit: Johan Sathyadas J

It took a full month for Kalaivani to be able to walk after he injured his leg while descending the stairs at the footbridge (FOB) near PTC Quarter in Rajiv Gandhi Salai. “I thought there was a step there, but there wasn’t. That part of the step was worn out from constant use,” he said.

He is not alone in missing a step or walking on dangerous steps. Many residents of the IT Corridor complain that almost a dozen FOBs are damaged and rusted. R. Ramaswamy, a resident of Sholinganallur, said not many people used the facility to cross the road before. “But after the CMRL study started, they had no option but to use it. We took up the issue with our MLA,” he said.

The steel structure is rusted in many places and the paint becomes slippery when it rains. S. Suresh, a resident of Thoraipakkam, said, “FOBs have no roof and are open to the sky. Therefore, their handles are hot to touch during summers. Even where people climb stairs, there are no ramps.”

FOMRRA co-founder Harsha Koda said that when OMR was designed, there were as many as 13-14 FOBs along the road. They were placed in places where pedestrian crossings were also available. “But not many people used them. Over time, these FOBs became a place for retail drug sales and homeless accommodation. The only real use was the revenue earned by the TNRDC, which manages the road, from the sale of signage space,” he said.

Several FOBs were removed when Chennai Metrorail started its construction. “It has been said that they will integrate FOBs into the stations and ensure they are well maintained. Time will tell. We hope they will be installed in high-density locations such as near schools, colleges and offices,” he added.