The ground-level construction works on the busy Anna Salai–Saidapet stretch have reached 98 per cent completion, officials said, raising expectations of significant relief from traffic congestion on one of Chennai’s most heavily used corridors.

A key milestone was achieved with the successful installation of the first deck slab of the 3.2-km-long flyover being built above the Saidapet Metro subway. Once completed, the flyover will enable uninterrupted travel from Saidapet to Thyagaraya Nagar, allowing motorists to bypass seven major traffic signals along the stretch.

The project involves the construction of 132 deck slabs. The first slab measures 30 metres in length, 16.6 metres in width and 25 cm in thickness, and required 15 tonnes of steel and 352 tonnes of concrete. Officials stated that deck slab installation will continue at the rate of one slab per day, with construction carried out during night hours between 12 am and 5 am to minimise traffic disruption.

With foundation works nearing completion and road widening progressing steadily, traffic flow on Anna Salai has already shown improvement. Once operational, the flyover is expected to reduce signal delays, cut travel time, and improve overall traffic efficiency. Considered a major infrastructure upgrade for Chennai, the project is expected to deliver long-term benefits for thousands of daily commuters using this vital arterial road.