Damaged foot overbridges on OMR spark safety concerns among residents

Residents of the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) in Chennai are demanding urgent repairs to nearly a dozen foot overbridges (FOBs) along the IT Corridor, citing safety hazards and deteriorated conditions. The steel structures, which have been in place for years, are now rusted, with worn-out steps, slippery surfaces, and missing railings, posing risks to pedestrians.

Kalaivani, a resident, recounted an incident where she injured her leg after missing a step that had eroded due to constant use on the FOB near PTC Quarters. 'I thought there was a step there, but there was none. That portion of the step had worn out,' she said. She is among several commuters who have experienced falls or near-misses on these bridges.

R. Ramaswamy, a resident of Sholinganallur, noted that while the FOBs were previously underused, the ongoing Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) construction has forced more pedestrians to rely on them. 'Earlier, not many people used the facility to cross the road. But after the CMRL work began, they have no other go but to utilise it. We have taken up the matter with our MLA,' he said.

Additional complaints include rusted steel, lack of roofing, and slippery paint during rains. S. Suresh of Thoraipakkam pointed out that the FOBs have no shade, making handrails hot in summer. 'The handles are hot to touch. There is no ramp even at locations where people climb the steps,' he said.

Harsha Koda, co-founder of the Federation of OMR Residents’ Associations (FOMRRA), explained that when OMR was designed, 13-14 FOBs were installed at zebra crossings. However, over time, many fell into disuse and became sites for illegal activities. 'They became a place for retail drug sales and homeless accommodation. The only real use was the revenue TNRDC got from selling signage space,' he said.

With the metro rail project, some FOBs were removed, with promises of integration into stations and better maintenance. 'We were told they would integrate the FOBs with the stations and ensure they were well maintained. This remains to be seen. Hopefully they will be installed at high-density locations like near schools, colleges, and offices,' Koda added.

Residents are calling on the Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC) and local authorities to assess the damage and expedite repairs to prevent accidents. The issue highlights the need for safe pedestrian infrastructure along one of Chennai's busiest corridors.