In two years, a drive to Mamallapuram from Chennai will hopefully be safer for motorists.
Following the end of the code of conduct, the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) has begun mobilising men and materials to widen the 30 km-stretch from Akkarai to Mamallapuram into a four-lane facility with a two-metre-wide median. Two months ago, work to remove encroachments along the road had started.
“Soil testing is on at the bridge at Muttukadu, which will be widened. Grubbing is on at spots where there are no built structures. Two bridges at Mamallapuram and three bridges at Kovalam will also be strengthened and widened. Pipe culverts will be converted to box culverts to facilitate better movement of water,” said a source in TNRDC.
For the work, which will take two years to complete, a total of 75,800 cubic metres of blue metal, 4,950 tonnes of bitumen and 2.65 lakh cubic metres of earth will be used. Since in many places the sides of the road are sandy slopes, the loose soil will be removed and a box-like structure, filled with a particular kind of soil, will be built.
Meanwhile, several land owners along the ECR at Kanathur and Muttukadu have gone to court against the removal of encroachments by the TNRDC. “Many owners are not willing to accept the old value of land being awarded. The award was passed in 1995 and many of us did not receive any compensation,” said Ponraj, a land owner.
Sources in the TNRDC said that in some villages, the highways department had taken possession of the land, citing the ‘urgency’ clause. “We have written to the district collector for funds to settle these cases,” said a source, adding that the agency did not believe this would have an impact on the widening work.
