Announcements made by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on construction of bridges and laying of roads in Madurai and its peripheries will help in preventing accidents and easing traffic congestion to a great extent.
Winding up a three-day annual conference of Collectors and police officers in Chennai on Friday, Ms.Jayalalithaa announced the formation of an underpass at the junction of Ring Road and Sivaganga Road; construction of a high-level bridge across the Vaigai, connecting Paravai and Thuvariman, and a rail overbridge at Chinthamani between Madurai East and Silaiman railway stations. A road would be laid on the north bank of the Vaigai, connecting Kurivikaran Salai causeway and PTR bridge.
The proposed bund road on the Vaigai has remained a missing link as rest of the stretches on both the flanks of the river have been covered. It will provide uninterrupted passage to Thathaneri from Anna Nagar.
The Vaigai bund roads come to the rescue of traffic managers whenever rallies are conducted in the city, especially around Tamukkam. Better lighting and strategically placed speed-breakers will encourage light vehicles to use the bund roads instead of arterial roads during peak hours.
The proposed underpass will facilitate smooth flow of vehicles bypassing the city as the Sivaganga junction, used by vehicles of many educational institutions and VIPs using the airport, has emerged as an accident-prone spot.
The bridge connecting Paravai and Thuvariman has been a long-pending demand of villagers on both sides of the Vaigai. People visiting Tirupparankundram from Alanganallur used to walk down the river from Paravai, recalls S. Venkataraman, a resident of Thuvariman. Vegetable growers around Thuvariman and Melakkal will find it easy to reach the wholesale market at Paravai. Residents of Thuvariman met Minister for Cooperation Sellur K. Raju on Saturday to thank him for getting their demand fulfilled.
The Chief Minister also announced the construction of an outpatient block and dialysis and ophthalmic wards at the Usilampatti Government Hospital and installation of a dialysis unit at the Melur GH. An Amma canteen will be opened at the Government Rajaji Hospital here.
Her other announcements included re-grading of Therkkar River from Sathankudi anicut to Melakottai in Tirumangalam taluk and permanent restoration and flood protection work for Aanaipappankulam tank surplus course of Tirumangalam town.
