Madurai
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has began overlaying of the fourlane between Samayanallur and Virudhunagar. The work on the 50-km stretch is expected to be over by end of April.
The work has commenced close on the heels of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court directing the NHAI to cut the toll levied on vehicles at Kappalur toll gate near Tirumangalam by 50% till the entire stretch of road was overlaid.
A resident of Virudhunagar, Manimaran, had approached the High Court seeking its intervention in the poor maintenance of the road. He had complained about potholes and alleged that poor maintenance led to accidents.
The fourlane highway was laid in 2009 with a design to long last for five years. Though minor maintenance was carried out in between, the road started developing potholes and cracks at several stretches.
The NHAI attributed the poor status of the road to failure on the part of contractor. Besides, the wornout road lacked major furniture like white lines that differentiated different lanes.
Now, the process of overlaying the road has started at a cost of ₹55 crore. The bad stretches of road are being scrapped out through milling machinery. Fresh layers are being laid.
The fourlane roads have four carriage ways — 3.5 metres wide each with a median of 4.5 metre wide. Paved shoulders of 1.5 metres wide and earthen shoulders of one metre wide on either side have been provided. Sources added that the entire stretch of road would be made fresh with all signages.
Overlaying of the road beyond Virudhunagar up to Kanniyakumari would be taken up shortly.
