Tourists and picnickers visiting the Grand Anicut from Tiruchi would soon have a smooth ride to the dam built by Karikala Chola. The State Highways Department has decided to widen and strengthen the road along the left bank of the Cauvery that leads to the Grand Anicut from the city.
Once the road is strengthened, the Grand Anicut can be reached from the city, off the Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass Road, within a few minutes as the distance is just about 12.5 km. The narrow road is largely underutilised and most visitors to Grand Anicut either go via Thanjavur or Vengur near Tiruverumbur.
The existing road, which is in a rather poor condition, has been damaged because of the movement sand lorries. The road will now be widened to a width of 10.5 metres from 5.5 metres, sources in the Highways Department told The Hindu on Tuesday.
The project has been sanctioned under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme at an estimated cost of Rs. 39.5 crore. Sources in the department said work on the project would begin soon.
According to the sources, the project was one of the 52 works sanctioned under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme in the district. The works are to be executed in 15 packages and tenders for 10 of the packages have been awarded. Strengthening of the Tiruchi-Namakkal Road would be another important work to be taken up under the programme. The road, which again has suffered extensive damages to the incessant movement of sand-laden lorries, would be strengthened at a cost of about Rs. 16.58 crore. Work on the project had begun, the sources said.
A 12-km damaged section of the Manapparai-Thuvarankurichi road would be strengthened at a cost of Rs. 7.50 crore, the sources added.
