Thuraiyur bypass road offers breather from chaotic traffic

The Thuraiyur bypass road inaugurated by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday would spare the public from frequent traffic hold ups in the congested town.

At a function in the State Secretariat, the Chief Minister inaugurated the bypass road along with other infrastructure projects via video conferencing.

Construction of the bypass road, a dire requirement for several years, was accorded a thrust four years ago. Laid at a cost of Rs. 9.45 crore, the bypass stretch of the State highway running to a length of about 3.5 kilometres connects the Musiri-Thuraiyur road with Perambalur road.

The project witnessed substantial delay and time and cost overruns. Albeit late, the public are happy that the road has finally been opened for traffic. Henceforth, buses plying from Chennai to Namkakkal, Musiri and Karur need not get into the chaotic traffic of Thuraiyur town, said Chairman of Thuraiyur municipality N. Murali.

By skipping Thuraiyur town, the mofussil buses would be able to save more than 15 minutes. The bypass road is expected to accelerate commercial and economic activities reflecting in construction of hotels and shopping complexes along the stretch, thereby reducing the inflow of vehicular traffic into the town.

The road runs through segments of the 18 ward of Thuraiyur municipality, and Keelakunnapatti, Melakunnapatti and Chitrapatti panchayat of Thuraiyur panchayat union.

Over the years, the delay in completion of the bypass road was a major cause for consternation among the public. With the number of two wheelers and four-wheelers rising by the day, adding to rapid urbanisation of Thuraiyur town, there used to be frequent traffic hold ups. The grouse of the public all along was that there was no point in postponing a project that was inevitable.

Barring buses and lorries bound for Attur in Salem district from Musiri and Tiruchi, heavy vehicles would hereafter be diverted through the bypass road. More importantly, the rate of road accidents in Thuraiyur town would come down, according to Parivendan, a senior citizen.