Four-laning of Tiruchi-Padalur section to be over by December

The Tiruchi-Chennai By-Pass road wears a new look as the four-lane highway is coming up fast. PHOTO: R.M. Rajarathinam.

The Tiruchi-Padalur section of the Tiruchi-Chennai National Highway is expected to be converted into four-lane by the end of this year.

About 33 km has already been converted into four-lane in the 38.5-km-long section, according to sources with Indu Navayuga Infra Projects, who are handling the project. The project, scheduled to be completed by May, is delayed due to issues such as land acquisition and shifting of utility lines, especially in the urban areas.

Currently work on the road over-bridges and grade separators, coming up on the city stretch along the Tiruchi-Chennai bypass road, is underway in full swing. The sources said the road over-bridge across the railway level crossing at Ariyamangalam would be completed within the next fortnight.

The grade separator at Ariyamangalam Palpannai is expected to be ready by November. Work on shifting the underground water mains at this site is currently underway and is expected to be completed within another 10 days. The pedestrian underpass being built at Senthanneerpuram would also be completed within the next fortnight, they added.

However, the twin road over-bridges across the railway level crossing at Golden Rock and the grade separator at TVS Tollgate were expected to be ready only in December.

Repair and strengthening works on the existing bridge across the Cauvery have also been completed, while the works are currently underway on the bridge across the Coleroon.