Chennai: The renovation work on the Anna Arch at Arumbakkam would begin from September 26. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat on Monday. During the discussions, the Chief Minister advised the officials about the renovation measures to be undertaken to safeguard the Arches, a landmark in the city. The Arches were to be removed on September 3 to make way for a flyover a the EVR High Road-Anna Nagar Third Avenue junction, but the officials could not take apart structure.
Meanwhile, on learning about the attempts to remove the arches, on September 5, the Chief Minister announced that the structure would not be removed but the alignment of the flyover would be shifted slightly towards the eastern side so as not to disturb the arches. “The Anna Arch constructed to mark the platinum jubilee of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai and unveiled by former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran on January 1, 1986, remains strong and sturdy just as the glory of MGR remains in the hearts of the people. I have directed the authorities to continue the work on the fly-over without disturbing the Anna Arch,” the Chief Minister had said then.
The previous DMK regime had, in 2010, approved the construction of a flyover connecting the Third Avenue of Anna Nagar and Nelson Manickam Road, at a cost of `117 crore, to ease the traffic congestion on EVR High Road in Arumbakkam.
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