District Collector M. Karunakaran inspected the ongoing construction work of some of the major bridges in the district on Saturday, including the rail over bridge (ROB) being built at a cost of ₹32.70 crore at Aaraikulam near Munneerpallam on the Palayamkottai – Papanasam Highway.
Besides urging the engineers of Department of Highways to ensure superior construction quality, Dr. Karunakaran exhorted the officials to complete the projects as early as possible.
After inspecting the construction of ROB at Aaraikulam, the Collector inspected the bridges under construction across the Manimuthar River to connect Vairaavikulam – Aaladiyoor villages (₹4.55 crore) and the near by Forest Department’s Mundanthurai Guest House across Servalar River in Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (₹7 crore).
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After the elevated bridge near Mundanthurai Guest House was washed away in the unprecedented flood on November 13, 1992, a steel bridge was constructed as a temporary measure to ensure uninterrupted vehicular traffic up to Papanasam Dam and the impermanent arrangement is to be replaced by a permanent structure after nearly a quarter of a century.
Dr. Karunakaran, after inspecting the construction of bridges, said the steel bridge at Mundanthurai was built by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board owing to the presence of hydroelectric power station here after the concrete bridge was washed away by flash floods. Construction of the new bridge on an outlay of ₹7 crore had been taken-up under the Integrated Road Infrastructure Development Scheme, being promoted by the Department of Highways and Minor Ports.
“Work on this bridge was commenced on November 14, 2016. Though construction duration of this bridge is 18 months, the officials have been asked to complete the work within a year while ensuring superior quality,” the Collector said.
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On the ongoing bridge construction across the Manimuthar River to connect Vairaavikulam and Aaladiyoor hamlets, Dr. Karunakaran said the bridge would be commissioned within a month after work on the approach road was completed.
The Collector informed that the construction of 760.14 meter-long ROB at Aaraikulam had reached the final stage. After the Department of Highways completed its portion for 674.52 meters from both sides of the Aaraikulam manned level crossing, the Indian Railways had commenced the work on completing the remaining connecting work over the rail track for about 85.62 meters.
“To ensure unhindered movement of vehicular traffic on this busy point, a new manned level crossing has been created near the workplace. The ROB will be ready soon,” the Collector added.
He also informed that construction of bridges in various parts of the district had been taken-up on an outlay of ₹15 crore.
Divisional Engineers, Department of Highways, Sundar Singh and Devi, Assistant Divisional Engineers Rajasekar, Sundaram, Malarvizhi and Senior Divisional Engineer (Indian Railways) Rajendra Muthukumar were present.