Residents of remote villages in and around Kongadai on Bargur hills have heaved a sigh of relief as construction of a bridge at Maniachipallam has been completed ahead of the monsoon season.
The bridge above a wild stream without which the residents faced a situation of isolation during rainy seasons has been a long-felt need for the residents, most of them socio-economically backward agriculturists.
While the Rs. 2.89 crore bridge with six concrete deck slabs would be helpful for those owing two-wheelers in Kongadai area to rest assured of connectivity to Tamaraikarai and beyond till Anthiyur and Bargur, operation of bus services to Kongadai will be possible only after laying of 6km road beyond the bridge.
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Funds available for providing connectivity to such villages under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana could be utilised to lay the road, according to officials. The stretch could not be laid so far since the Rural Development Department could secure the nod of the Forest Department only in recent months.
Operation of bus services till Kongadai, located about 20km away from Tamaraikarai, will benefit about 9,000 residents of Kongadai, Onnakarai, Thammureddi, Hosur, Chinnasenkulam, Periyasengulam, Kovil Natham, Alanai, Pattapalaya, Thalakarai, Tholli, and Periyur villages.