The work on the construction of a high level bridge across River Cauvery connecting the villages of Mohanur (Namakkal district) and Vangal (Karur district) at an outlay of Rs. 43.5 crore is progressing at a fast pace and is expected to be completed by August.
The work implemented under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) loan assistance scheme is being executed by the projects wing of the Tamil Nadu Highways Department.
The State Government accorded administrative sanction for this project in 2008. The bridge will be to a length of 1.5 km and will have 56 deck slabs.
At present, people have to take a circuitous route covering a distance of 36 km. for reaching one village from another, which is separated by the River Cauvery.
The construction of the bridge will reduce the travel distance to just 3.5 km. and the project will benefit the residents of Mohanur, Pallapatty, Vangal, Velayuthampalayam, Thalavapalayam, Manmangalam and the surrounding villages.
The construction work commenced in 2009.
Due to inordinate delay, the tender was cancelled and re-tender was called for the completion of the left out work.
Since the second contractor too did not evince interest in the execution of the project for a long, the Government advised calling for third tender in 2014.
Of the 56 deck slabs, construction of 55 deck slabs has already been completed. About one km approach road on Mohanur side and another 600 m length of approach road on Vangal side are also in progress.
Even though the agreement period is up to May 2016, the Highways Department has taken the initiative to complete the project by August this year itself.
K. C. Parameswaran, Chief Engineer (Highways), Projects, Chennai and Krishnakumar, Superintending Engineer (Highways), Projects, Coimbatore, inspected the works on Friday.
Mr. Parameswaran directed the field officials and the contractor to ensure the completion of the entire work before ‘Aadiperukku’ festival in August.
Assistant Divisional Engineers (Highways), Projects, Natarajan (Quality Control, Coimbatore), M. Kumutha (Karur), and P. Selvakumar (Salem), who were present during the inspection, explained the progress of the works.
