A 700-metre flyover at the Padappai junction, meant to relieve a stretch handling roughly 70,000 vehicles a day, was originally due in about 18 months from its 2019 start but was still only 50% complete as of February 2025 — over five years later. Peak-hour congestion at the site now stretches up to a kilometre, taking commuters roughly 25 minutes to cross, with inadequate lighting cited as a safety hazard.
On record
The official record states: "Delays were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and to pending relocation of electric poles, with state highway sources saying only that "the work is in full swing now and will be completed soon.""
Filed as "Under repeat delay" and dated to Started 2019 (original ~18-month target), this entry sits under the "₹189.81 crore (original, 2019) revised to ₹205.64 crore (2021)" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- Pillars reaching skyward with no deck to justify them.
- A signboard promising an opening date that has since passed, unbothered.
- Traffic queuing patiently beneath the unfinished span.
- Rebar exposed where the road was meant to continue.
Sourcing
1 public source — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“The soil test was optimistic. The soil disagreed.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
Visitor reviews
“Wandered up from the flyover next door, which was also unfinished. You can see straight through the transparency of the tender.”
“Came here on a heritage walk that had clearly lost the plot. It is a cautionary tale you can stand next to.”
“Made the trip after a colleague swore it was worth seeing. The junction it was meant to fix now has a plaque and two problems.”
