Anna Flyover, also known as Gemini Flyover, is a dual-armed grade separator in the central business district of Chennai, India. Built in 1973 and dubbed one of the top-rated flyovers in the country, it is Asia's First Grade Separator, the first flyover in Chennai and the third Flyover in India, after the ones at Kemps Corner and Marine Drive in Mumbai. It was the longest flyover in the country when it was built. Its main purpose is to allow traffic movement on Mount Road—now renamed Anna Salai—near Nungambakkam High Road to continue unhindered by the cross traffic. The presence of the Gemini Studios, which was demolished later, resulted in the flyover coming to be known as Gemini Flyover and the area being referred to as the Gemini Circle. On two sides of the circle roundabout below the centre of the flyover are two identical statues of a man controlling a horse placed there to commemorate the banning of horse racing. Anna Flyover has been beautified with other elements such as water fountains, landscaping of its traffic islands, cove lighting under the traffic movement area, restoration of the horse statue, a toilet for the police personnel, murals depicting social messages, and so forth.
History and design
Anna flyover was constructed in 1973 by East Coast Construction and Industries in 21 months at a cost of 6.6 million and was opened to traffic on 1 July 1973. The architects of the flyover had made provision for its extension, if necessary, on either side. Not much has changed since its design in the 1970s, which was said to have been approved by a committee comprising senior officials and experts. The original lighting has been changed though. The flyover is 500 m long.
Landmarks
This Equestrian horse statue was sculpted by the Late.Sri M.N.Jayaram Nagappa son of the great sculptor Rao Bahadur M S Nagappa and brother of Sri M N Mani Nagappa who is also a world-renowned sculptor. Before climbing Anna Flyover to the left are the Oxford University Press and the U.S. Consulate, and to the right one can find the remains of the old Safire Theatre complex. Gemini studio has been demolished and a shopping complex called Parson Manor and a 5-star deluxe hotel called The Park have been built in its place. Opposite to these across the flyover lies the Semmozhi Poonga, the 20-acre, 80-million botanical garden constructed by the horticultural department.
Traffic
In the 1970s, over 9,000 vehicles crossed the junction during peak hour. By the 2010s, the stretch between Parry's Corner and Nandanam was used by over 16,000 vehicles during rush hour. Anna Salai is used by over 0.183 million vehicles every day. An average of 20,000 vehicles per hour pass through the intersection beneath the flyover.
Developments
The government had plans to lease out the area under the flyover to a restaurant, a shopping centre, godowns and a parking lot, and for advertising. A preliminary study by Chennai City Connect, an NGO working on improving traffic and transport conditions in Chennai, found that the Gemini Circle intersection costs the city 270,000 a day in petrol, human capital and ecological loss. There are plans to build a flyover on top of the existing flyover. A short-term plan at a cost of 9 million has also been planned. Anna Flyover is now maintained by Aircel Cellular as a part of corporate social responsibility, which has implemented LED lighting accentuating the parapets of the flyover. LED lighting to beautify a public structure has been implemented for the first time in India by city-based Abra Media Networks; TNRIDC, a division of Highways, has awarded the contract to Aircel starting from July 2010.
Accidents and incidents
In January 1998, a small bomb was detonated under the flyover near the American consulate building. On 27 June 2012, over 40 people were injured when a Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus overturned while negotiating a curve and fell from the flyover from a height of 20 ft.
