How about a journey through time right here at Anna Nagar Bridge? This isn’t just any flyover. It’s a landmark that tells a story of Chennai’s growth.
Anna Nagar Bridge, often called Gemini Flyover, stands tall as a dual-armed grade separator. It’s in Chennai’s central business district. Imagine the year 1973. This bridge was built. It became Chennai’s first flyover. India only had two others before it. At that time, it was the longest in the country.
The Anna Nagar Bridge allows traffic on Anna Salai to flow freely. It crosses paths with other roads. The area gets its name from the now-gone Gemini Studios.
Look around at the circle roundabout below. Notice the two identical statues. They mark the banning of horse racing in Tamil Nadu.
East Coast Construction and Industries built Anna Nagar Bridge in just 21 months. The cost was ₹ 6.6 million. It opened on July 1, 1973. The architects planned for future extensions. The design has stayed almost the same since the 70s. The Anna Nagar Bridge stretches 500 meters long.
Let’s talk landmarks. The old Safire Theatre complex once stood nearby. Oxford University Press was also here. The U.S. Consulate is another notable neighbor.
Gemini Studio is no more. Now, Parson Manor shopping complex and The Park, a 5-star hotel, occupy the space. Opposite them is Semmozhi Poonga. This botanical garden spans 20 acres. It cost ₹ 80 million to construct.
Back in the 70s, over 9000 vehicles used this junction every peak hour. By the 2010s, over 16000 vehicles passed here. Anna Salai now sees over 0.183 million vehicles daily. Around 20000 vehicles per hour travel through the intersection beneath Anna Nagar Bridge.
The government considered leasing out the area under the flyover. They thought about restaurants, shops, and parking.
Chennai City Connect, an NGO, studied the Gemini Circle intersection. They estimated it cost the city ₹ 270000 a day. This includes petrol, human capital, and ecological losses. There were even plans for another flyover on top of this one.
Aircel Cellular now maintains Anna Nagar Bridge. They use LED lighting to highlight its parapets. This was the first time LED lighting was used to beautify a public structure in India.
In January 1998, a bomb exploded near the American consulate building. It was placed under the flyover. In 2012, a bus overturned on a curve. It fell from Anna Nagar Bridge injuring over 40 people.
Exactly 50 years ago, M. Karunanidhi opened the Anna Nagar Bridge. It was then the longest flyover in the country measuring 1599 ft long and 48 ft wide. The Corporation of Madras proposed the idea around 1948-49. In December 1969, the DMK regime approved the project costing ₹49.5 lakh.
In 1974, statues of a man and horse were placed here. This commemorated the government’s decision to ban horse racing.
M.S. Srinivasan recalls Karunanidhi’s attachment to Anna Nagar Bridge. During the Chennai Metro Rail project, Karunanidhi insisted that the flyover must not be damaged.
Today, the Anna Nagar Bridge remains structurally sound. In 2017, around two lakh vehicles used it every day. The government renovated the flyover in 2021. This included landscaping, pillar beautification, and painting. All this cost ₹8 crore.
As Chennai changes, Anna Nagar Bridge continues to hold its place. It’s more than just concrete and steel. It’s a symbol of Chennai’s past and present.