Delay by the Highways Department authorities in setting right heavy damages to Dhimbam ghat section has annoyed the public, particularly farmers and traders in Hasanur and Thalavadi.
Recurring vehicular traffic blockades in recent months on Dhimbam ghat section galvanised the National Highways Department into readying a Rs. 9.5-crore proposal as a long-term solution.
The public are disgusted as there is no indication as yet of the start of remediation works with Rs. 37 lakh, which has already been sanctioned, for carrying out patch works. There are gaping holes close to a few bends that causes breakdown of vehicles with heavy loads, resulting in traffic snarls. The long-term proposal touted to be a permanent solution has provisions for strengthening a 12-km stretch encompassing the 27 hair-pin bends with parapet walls, retainer walls and concrete-lining of the sides, besides setting up weigh-bridges at Hasanur and Bannari, much to the relief of the Transport authorities who had, so far, faced difficulties in securing the required land from the Forest Department.
While refusing permission to the Highways Department authorities to widen the national highway that cuts across the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, the Forest Department is reportedly open to the idea of strengthening the road within the existing breadth.
The proposal for permanent solution to the traffic problem on the road that provides quick connectivity from Western Tamil Nadu to Mysore was prompted by the periodic meetings that the district administration convened involving officials of the Forest, Highways and Transport departments.
Heavy damage to the road created by the rain in the preceding months has been causing nightmares for heavy vehicles, especially at
the 15th, sixth and second bends, where huge potholes trap tyres of load lorries. It then takes the traffic wing of the police department several hours to clear the blockage, due to the steepness of the ghat section.
