The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Bridge work to end soon

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Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Bridge work to end soon

Staff Reporter

KARUR: Construction of the new road over bridge at Lalapet on the Karur-Tiruchi section of the NH 67 would be completed shortly and thrown open to traffic by Pongal, according to Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu.

Speaking to the media at Lalapet on Saturday after inspecting the progress of the work, Mr. Baalu said that the construction work was nearing completion. By all means, vehicular traffic would be allowed in time for Pongal, Mr. Baalu added.

The ROB would be 2,689 metres long including 645 metres of elevated carriage way. The project is being executed at a revised estimate of Rs. 24.19 crore project, up from the original Rs. 15 crore. The foundation stone was laid in October 1998 but the project did not take off till February 2006. It is expected that the project would now be completed in January, at least 18 months behind the revised completion schedule.

The Tiruchi-Karur section of NH 67 is a busy stretch and the traffic intensity is estimated to be 15,000 cars per day. The level crossing has to be closed to make way for about 20 trains a day.

Deploring the bad state of the road stretches in the Tiruchi-Karur section of NH 67, the Minister directed the Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, M. Thangamani to take immediate steps to restore the road to motorable condition. The Minister has directed the officials that in one week the road should be repaired and restored.

On the damages caused to the National Highways in the aftermath of continuing rains, Mr. Baalu said that roads to a length of 32 km have been damaged in the Tindivanam-Tiruchi section of NH 45 while another 30 km have been damaged in the Tiruchi-Dindigul section. No great damages have been seen in the NH 7, he added.

Regarding the six-lane road over bridge under construction at the Thirukkampuliyur junction in Karur, Mr. Baalu said that still land acquisition works needed to be completed and shifting of facilities had to be done in the area. “We hope to complete the ROB pretty soon,” he added.

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