TN govt plans a high-level bridge to protect Chennai’s Pallikaranai marshland

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu govt plans to build a high-level bridge between Kamatchi Hospital in Pallikaranai and Thoraipakkam to protect the Pallikaranai marshland.

“A detailed project report will be prepared for the high-level bridge,” highways minister E V Velu said while replying to the debate on demand for grants for the department.

The Pallikaranai marshland, one of the last natural wetlands in south India, has suffered significant damage, particularly during the previous floods.

According to the state wetland mission, this marshland is crucial as it drains an area of 250sq km of south Chennai. It connects 65 wetlands via Okkiyam Madavu and the Kovalam creek, eventually leading into the Bay of Bengal.

Significant portions of the marsh have been lost over the years. Due to ad hoc manipulation and reduction of wetland area, 90% of it has been destroyed.

Foot overbridges
The minister said the highways department would construct two foot overbridges with escalators -- one near Velachery railway station and the other on the Inner Ring Road near Koyambedu junction.