In order to help the pedestrians cross the busy city thoroughfares easily, the state government has granted administrative sanction to construct foot over bridges with escalators at seven points across the city.

A go ahead has been given to the highways department to a proposal submitted by the metro division of the highways. The work will be carried out at an estimated cost of Rs. 28 crore, with financial assistance from the World Bank.

Two such bridges will come up near Chromepet GH and MEPZ on GST road, one at Vaishnav College on the Poonamalee EVR High Road. Two foot over bridges with escalators will come up at IT corridor near TCS and Perungudi junction. A bridge will come up at the Inner Ring Road near SBOA school and another will be constructed at the Velachery by-pass.

The escalator will have a folding-type ramp instead of staircases, so that elderly people, women and children will be comfortable using it. This decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by chief secretary S. Malathi. Tenders will be invited by the highways department for construction of these bridges after finalizing the design.