Tamil Nadu - Erode   

New barrage-cum-bridge to save travel time

R. Sundaram

Barrage-cum-bridge being built across the River Cauvery at Pasur

DEMAND MET: Work on an electricity barrage in progress at Pasur in Erode. — PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN

ERODE: Vehicles, including lorries and buses, will benefit from the construction of electricity barrage-cum-bridge across the River Cauvery at Pasur.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is constructing a hydro electricity barrage across the Cauvery connecting the Pasur village in Erode district and Chozhasiramani in Namakkal district. The length of the barrage is around 750 metre and according to the original proposal, a four-metre wide road would be formed along the barrage for two-wheelers from Pasur to Chozhasiramani.

The Modakurichi MLA, R.M. Palanisamy, belonging to the Congress, who visited the construction site, met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi along with the Highways and Ports Minister, M.P. Saminathan, and pleaded for widening the road from 4 metre to 7 metre. The Chief Minister after discussions agreed to sanction Rs. 8.25 crore for the widening the bridge.

Thanking the Chief Minister for granting the amount, Mr. Palanisamy told The Hindu on Wednesday, "the widening will facilitate smooth travel for people in Namakkal, Tiruchengode and neighbouring areas to Coimbatore, Palani and other southern districts. Now, the people of Namakkal and Tiruchengode have to go to Palani and other southern district via Erode and Kangeyam, but if the barrage-cum-bridge is completed they need not touch Erode, but can go via Pasur, Elumathur, Kangeyam and Palani. Further, those going to Coimbatore and Kerala can also utilise the bridge. Once the bridge is built, motorists are benefited by more than 30 km and every day about 2,000 vehicles go to Palani from Tiruchengode and Namakkal.

Demand

Chandrasekar of Pasur village said, "This is a long-pending demand as most of the agricultural products can be taken to Namakkal district easily and it will certainly help the farming community."

Mr. Palanisamy said under the `Deposit Scheme' funds were granted to Tamil Nadu Electricity Board by the State Government and the TNEB will construct the bridge and hand it over to the Highways Department.

The electricity generated using the Cauvery water in the barrage would be supplied to nearby areas. The work is expected to be completed by June 2009.

Two bridges exist across the River Cauvery: one connecting Erode and Pallipalayam and the other at Paramathyvelur. The new barrage-cum-bridge at Pasur-Chozhasiramani is located between the two bridges.

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