Tamil Nadu   

Rs.303 crore for maintenance of rural roads: Minister

Special Correspondent

Inaugurates bridge across Thenpennai

TIRUVANNAMALAI: The State Government has allocated Rs.303 crore for the maintenance of tar roads in rural areas. The Government was converting all rural roads into tar roads in a phased manner in the interests of the village people, especially farmers, who had to transport their produce to the markets, the Minister for Highways, Vellakkovil M.P. Saminathan, said on Friday.

Rs.3.66 crore bridge

He inaugurated the 151.56-metre long overbridge, constructed at a cost of Rs.3.66 crore across Thenpennai with the financial aid from the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development at Rayandapuram in Thandrambut panchayat union. Mr. Saminathan said that the construction of the bridge had reduced the distance to be covered by the farmers in the villages lying on either side of the Rayandapuram-Thandrambut Road.

The bridge, which was 6.4 metre high, had 18 spans, each having a length of 7.60 metres.

The Minister said that mud roads to a length of 190 k.m. in the district would be upgraded into tar roads at a cost of Rs.15 crore.

In view of the lakh of devotees visiting Tiruvannamalai, the Government would take steps to lay by-pass roads. The Centre would be requested to convert the Cuddalore-Chittoor Road into a National Highway.

The Government had abolished the consolidated contract system for executing the road works and had ordered that each work should be executed by calling for separate tenders. The vacancies in the Highways Department were being filled up, he noted.

Food Minister E.V. Velu, who presided, said that the Government issued orders sanctioning Rs.2.96 crore in 2001 for the construction of the overbridge. But the previous regime did not take up the work.

A new order was issued in 2005, on the orders of the court, and the bridge had been constructed at a revised cost of Rs.3.66 crore.

Chief Engineer (Highways), NABARD and Rural Roads, A. Kabir Ahmed welcomed.

Tiruvannamalai Collector Satyabrata Sahoo, Tirupattur MP D. Venugopal and MLAs K. Pitchandi (Tiruvannamalai), R. Sivanandam (Arni), S.P. Jayaraman (Vandavasi), P.S. Vijayakumar (Polur), K. Edhiroli Manian (Peranamallur), District Panchayat Chairman M.P. Giri and Thandrambut Panchayat Union Chairman M. Panneerselvam spoke. T. Balachandar, Superintending Engineer (Highways), NABARD and Rural Roads, Chengalpattu, proposed a vote of thanks.

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