A new bridge across the Ariyar river on the Alampattipudur-Melur Road in Manikandam union in the district has been completed and thrown open for traffic.
The bridge was sanctioned by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa soon after her election from the Srirangam Assembly constituency based on representation from locals who complained that they had to take a detour in the absence of a bridge across the river.
The bridge, running for distance of 94 metres, has been constructed in seven months, according to district officials.
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The bridge, constructed at a cost 1.96 crore, also connects the Tiruchi-Thogamalai highway with the Tiruchi-Dindigul National Highway. Officials said that the construction of the bridge would benefit about 8,000 residents in villages in Inam Kulathur panchayat. The connectivity would help a large number of students also as several educational institutions are located along the national highway.
The bridge is one of the four across the river sanctioned under the pool assigned revenues for local bodies in the district.
Work was also underway on construction of three other bridges across the Ariyar river, between North and South Ariyavur, Navalurkuttapattu and Navalur, and Punganur and Allithurai.
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The three bridges have been sanctioned at a total cost of about Rs.6.21 crore.