NHAI installs two lifts at foot over bridge on Chennai – Bengaluru Highway near CMC in Ranipet

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has installed two lifts at the newly opened Foot Over Bridge (FOB) on the Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 44), maintained by NHAI, near Christian Medical College (CMC) new campus at Puttuthakku village in Ranipet.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has installed two lifts at the newly opened Foot Over Bridge (FOB) on the Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 44) near Christian Medical College (CMC) new campus at Puttuthakku village in Ranipet.

NHAI officials said that the new facility was necessitated especially after the opening of the new CMC campus on the highway as many visitors including patients, relatives and hospital authorities have to cross the busy highway to reach the hospital campus safely.

The initiative of installing new lifts was based on a request from residents and CMC management to NHAI recently. “New lifts on both sides of the bridge are a welcome measure as pedestrians, especially senior citizens and women, find it convenient to cross the busy highway safely. Safety of users, especially during night should be ensured to prevent antisocials misusing the new lifts,” said K. Vinoth, a resident.

The officials said that the lifts were constructed at a cost of ₹1.2 crores. Each lift has a capacity to accomodate 16 persons. The lifts are designed to be accessible for wheelchair users and stretchers, ensuring convenience for disabled patients. “As per the agreement, CMC will maintain the lifts round the clock, while NHAI will maintain the bridge,” said an NHAI official.

Prone to accident

The officials said that Puttuthakku village, where the new facility has come up, is one of the ‘black spots’ within Ranipet district limits on the highway. These black spots are accident prone spots that are based on reports given by the police to the district administration.

As per design, the new bridge, built at a cost of ₹2 crore is 6.5 meter high, three meters wide, and 58.5 meters in length, with solar sensor lights installed along the passage for better visibility.

The staircases were provided on the service lanes to reach the bridge. Shelters have also been provided on the bridge with lights and CCTV cameras. Both sides of the bridge have been fenced to prevent any accidental fall on the carriageway below the new facility. 

Every day, on an average, CMC, including its main campus in Vellore town ,get nearly one lakh visitors. Most of the specialist departments started to function from its Ranipet campus near the new bridge. At present, pedestrians have to walk at least 500 metre to the nearest pedestrian crossing at Puttuthakku junction. The stretch has a few government schools, primary healthcare centres and car service centres.