The Hindu : Front Page : Facelift for Tiruchi-Ariyalur highway

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005

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Facelift for Tiruchi-Ariyalur highway

M. Balaganessin

The stretch, which suffered an extensive damage last year, is now being re-laid at a cost of Rs.26 crores

TIRUCHI: : Motorists driving down the Tiruchi-Ariyalur stretch of the Tiruchi-Chidambaram highway could hope for a smoother ride soon. The stretch, which had suffered an extensive damage during the monsoon last year, is now being re-laid at a cost of over Rs.26 crores.

The 106-km road stretch, which witnesses a heavy traffic volume, especially a large number of trucks ferrying cement and raw material to factories in and around Ariyalur and Tiruchi, has been rendered almost unmotorable over the past one year.

The entire stretch is now strengthened by the Highways Department by pooling in funds sanctioned under the Central Road Fund (CRF), the Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project (TNRSP), the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme (CRIDP) and the New Service Scheme (NSS).

While 38 km of the road between Toll Gate near the Coleroon river and Kallagam falls within the jurisdiction of Tiruchi district, the balance lies in Perambalur district. A technical team from the Highways Research Station in Chennai conducted a study, in view of the frequent damages suffered by the road despite regular patch works, and has suggested ways to reinforce the clay soil and a multiple layer of road formation.

A few `dark spots,' which are vulnerable to frequent damage, have been identified where additional reinforcements would be made.

Highways officials said that Rs. 1. 4 crores has been sanctioned under the CRF for strengthening the 4.8-km stretch between Poovalur and Kallakudi, Poovalur bypass, Thennarasur and Keezharasur. Tenders are to be called shortly for laying 26.6 km between Toll Gate to Kallakudi Samathuvapuram at an estimated cost of Rs. 14 cores sanctioned under the TNRSP.

On the Ariyalur side, the work is being executed in six phases at an estimated outlay of Rs 10.71 crores. The 1.4 km stretch near Vilankudi Kaikatti (1.4 km) has already been re-laid at a cost of Rs.50 lakhs under NSS. The Government has sanctioned Rs. 2.45 crores under the CRIDP for re-laying 10.3 km. Besides, about 12 km would be relaid at an estimate of Rs.4.50 crores under the TNRSP Phase II.

(PICTURE ON PAGE 3)

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