The much awaited Ramanathapuram – Kilakarai Railway Overbridge (ROB) finally took shape with Minister for Information Technology M. Manikandan performing ‘boomi puja’ for the ₹30.74 crore project for laying approach roads for the ROB, near the railway station here.
Talking to reporters after taking part in the event with Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao here on Thursday, Mr Manikandan said Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami had sanctioned the project after he brought to his notice, the inconveniences faced by the local people and the traffic snarls on both the sides whenever the manned railway gate was closed for rail traffic.
The government, through the Highways (projects) department, had issued a Government Order (G.O) recently, sanctioning ₹25.60 crore for laying approach roads on both sides and ₹5.14 crore for paying to compensation to private lands to be acquired for laying the approach roads, he said.
After tender process, the government has awarded the contract to Madurai based ‘M/s SAL & Co., he said adding the Highways (projects) department would be the executing agency. The contract company has been given 24 months project period for completing the work. While the Highways would build the approach roads, the Railways would build the bridge across the railway lines.
The approach roads would have 18 meters carriage way and 5.5 meters service roads with load bearing drainage on both the sides, U. Palaniappan, Superintending Engineer, Highways (projects), Madurai circle, said. The approach road from Ramanathapuram side would run to 318 meters and from Kilakarai side, 308.6 meters, he said. The approach roads would have 14 spans, he added.
In all, 92 cents of private lands would be acquired and 51 cents of government lands would be alienated for the project. The lands have been identified and the acquisition would begin after the Commissioner Land Administration (CLA) finalised the rates for compensation to the private land owners, he said. M. R. Kendradevi, Divisional Engineer, Highways (projects division), Madurai was present.
