The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sent a proposal to the State government, seeking takeover of the Tiruchi-Musiri-Namakkal Highway for widening it into four-lane road.
At present, the 70-km stretch is under the control of the National Highway of the Department of Highways of the State. The road — one of the busiest in the region — is prone to damage mainly due to the movement of trucks transporting sand from the Cauvery and the Coleroon. It is the main road connecting Bengaluru and Hosur from Tiruchi.
The road along the Cauvery banks is still a two-lane road and suffered extensive damage during the monsoon season. Road users say the uneven stretch makes the journey difficult for them. During his visit to the city in October last, Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami said the road would be turned into a four-lane highway.
Considering the importance of upgrading the road in view of the heavy volume of traffic and creating better connectivity between Tiruchi and Bengaluru, the NHAI sent the proposal to the State government. The government also agreed to the proposal in principle. Also, the NHAI requested the officials concerned to make the transfer as quickly as possible, sources told The Hindu .
The sources added that the State government had already drafted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for widening it as a four-lane road and the NHAI would adapt it with a few modifications, if necessary. Chances were bright for laying the road under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), a public-private partnership model. Otherwise, the NHAI would use its own funds for the project.
If the stretch was developed under HAM, the awarded company would take up the laying of the road along with the responsibility of maintaining it for the first four years.
The NHAI, which would have control of toll collection, would step in from the fifth year.
Project cost
Stating the cost of the project would be finalised once NHAI took control of the road, the sources said the estimated cost was between ₹13 crore and ₹14 crore for laying one km of the four-lane highway.
