The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Bridge damaged in floods still waiting for facelift

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Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Bridge damaged in floods still waiting for facelift

Staff Reporter

It was built at the cost of Rs. 14 lakh in 2001

— Photo D. Gopalakrishnan

AWAITING REPAIR: A broken bridge on PJN Road in Vaniyambadi.

VANIYAMBADI: The Vaniyambadi Municipality is yet to repair a bridge on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Road that was damaged in the floods in 2001. The bridge over the Kannar, a tributary of the Palar, was constructed at the cost of Rs. 14 lakh and inaugurated on July 13,2001.

According to sources, the bridge was the shortest route from Kutchery Road to Valayampattu. It used to witness heavy vehicular traffic during those days.

Residents said that lorries from the tannery units used the bridge to reach Valayampattu, which was adjacent to the bypass, in the shortest time.

The bridge collapsed during the floods, within months of its inauguration, owing to poor construction. The successive State governments showed little interest in repairing the structure, they added.

The flow of heavy vehicles in Vaniyambadi was always high as several low-tension tannery units functioned in the town, the residents said. This was one of the reasons why there were frequent traffic snarls in the town.

The municipality had decided to set up an additional bus stand close to the bypass to ease the traffic congestion. It was also spending money on a bridge at Amburpettai.

A proposal for the construction of a bridge over the railway track in the New Town area was also okayed. However, steps are yet to be taken to repair the damaged bridge, the residents alleged.

Residents and social activists said that Municipal Chairman Sivaji Ganesan should seek additional funds from the State government to repair the bridge. The Kutchery Road was a congested area and repairing the bridge on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Road would ease the congestion.

At present, heavy vehicles from the Kutchery Road could not use the bridge to reach Valayampattu. As a result, the only alternative route available was C.N.Road, which made it accident-prone.

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