NHAI takes up periodic renewal of Tiruchi-Thanjavur national highway

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up periodic renewal and strengthening of the Tiruchi-Thanjavur National Highway section.

The nearly 50-km-long road section had been damaged badly during the spells of heavy rain during the northeast monsoon and travellers have been facing hardship because of the potholes and road erosions on different stretches of the highway.

According to sources in the NHAI, the work has begun recently and was expected to be completed within the next four to five months.

Joint inspection

Meanwhile, the NHAI and Tiruchi Divisional Railway authorities have planned a joint inspection of the G. Corner intersection on the Chennai-Tiruchi Bypass near Golden Rock later this week in the wake of long-pending demand for construction of an underpass across the bypass to provide proper access to Golden Rock and residential areas beyond it.

The residents have been demanding this facility for nearly two decades now, ever since the widening of the bypass into four lanes, which forms part of the Chennai-Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway.

At present, a two-way service lane to the left of the Chennai-Tiruchi Bypass from TVS Tollgate Junction provides access to Golden Rock and beyond. But the service lane is narrow and accident-prone, especially near G. Corner and near TVS Tollgate junction, residents contend.

The other alternative is to take a detour to Ariyamangalam to take a u-turn and return to enter the Golden Rock Main Road.

Golden Rock houses the Central Railway Workshop, the Tiruchi division’s railway headquarters hospital, and several schools. Besides, residents of Melakalkandarkottai, Ponmalaipatti, and several other colonies beyond the Railway Colony have been using the road for decades.

When the four-lane project was executed, the railways refused to cede land at the junction and hence the bypass was built without an underpass. Subsequent negotiations between the NHAI and railways in 2012 ended in a stalemate.

With Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko taking up the issue now, a preliminary joint inspection by officials of the two agencies would be held this week. After the inspection, road safety experts would be requested to study the issue and come up with appropriate suggestions, NHAI sources said.