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Work begins on new bridge across Arasalar

Special Correspondent

KARAIKAL: Work has begun in earnest for construction of an additional road bridge across Arasalar connecting both ends of Karaikal town at the same place, where 150-year-old road bridge collapsed in the tsunami two and half years ago.

Although a road bridge was built at a cost of Rs.3.5 crore, just 70 metres east of the collapsed bridge and inaugurated in February last year, an additional bridge is now being built as it came under the National Highway No.45-A.

The old bridge was completely removed recently and land filling is in progress for construction of the new bridge with a length of 58 metres and a width of 12 metres for which the Centre had sanctioned Rs .5 crore.

Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi inspected the work a fortnight ago. Collector N. Vasantha Kumar said that the Public Works Department had speeded up the work.

A cross-section of people of Karaikal told The Hindu on Tuesday that they were quite happy as the new bridge would ease the traffic congestion, with one used for incoming traffic from Nagapattinam and another for outbound vehicles from Karaikal and other places.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who recently laid the foundation stone for the new bridge, said it would be completed within a year.

S.P. Selvashanmugham, president of Puducherry Cauvery Delta Farmers Legal Action Committee, said that the construction of additional bridge across the Arasalar would help in maintaining free flow of traffic.

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