Latest news with #ComprehensiveRoadInfrastructureDevelopmentProgramme
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Velachery FOBs turn anti-social elements' den
Chennai: Would you use a zig-zag foot over bridge (FOB) with multiple steps and long footpaths to cross a road when a pedestrian-friendly signal is just a few steps away? Probably not—unless you're there for an early morning workout or a casual hangout. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This is exactly the case with the two FOBs located on Velachery–Taramani Link Road — one near the Baby Nagar Bus Stop and the other adjacent to the Taramani 100-Feet Road Bus Stop. The FOBs were inaugurated 10 years ago by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa as part of a 30 crore project to "ease congestion" on the road, but both now wear a deserted look. They are dysfunctional and have turned into an anti-social den, with alcohol bottles and cigarette butts strewn around. The escalators do not work either. "Most pedestrians directly cross the road using the two nearby signals. Youngsters even jump across the median barriers. The footfall declined further after the escalators stopped working," said Selvi, who runs a shop near Baby Nagar Bus Stop FOB. Pedestrians flagged redundancy of the bridges, citing their complex design and long access paths. Claiming that traffic is usually manageable in the area, they said crossing at the signals was quicker and less tiring. With poor upkeep and diminishing utility, residents also raised concerns about safety and sanitation. "At night, people sleep along the path with cigarettes and beer bottles," said Ganesan, a resident of Velachery. Residents say it's better to demolish the FOBs so that the pavements can be reclaimed. However, these underused structures continue to receive funds and official backing. "People will start using the bridges once the escalators become functional. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Do you want us to demolish them just because they are not used?" asked Velachery MLA J M H Aassan Maulaana. The govt has plans to revive them. "We are planning to repair the escalators through the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme. The budget will be finalised soon," said Murugan, highways assistant engineer. "FOBs are a bad idea. These structures end up giving priority to cars while forcing pedestrians to climb and cross," said Sumana Narayanan of Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
₹3,858 crore allocated for development of 448 km of four-lane roads under the Chief Minister's Road Development Scheme since 2021
The Tamil Nadu government said on Sunday that ₹3,858 crore had been allocated for the development of 448 km of four-lane roads and ₹2,207 crore for 1,681 km of two-lane roads under the Chief Minister's Road Development Scheme since it was launched in 2021. 'Currently, work is in progress on 383 km of four-lane roads at a cost of ₹2,807 crore and 357 km of two-lane roads at a cost of ₹709 crore,' it said. Under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme, a sum of ₹17,154 crore was allocated for 9,620 km of road projects and ₹1,161 crore was allocated for 996 bridge/culvert projects, said an official release listing the achievements of the Highways Department. Under the Urban Area Development Scheme, work to an extent of 164 km has been carried out at a cost of ₹731 crore. Pavement surface improved The pavement surface of 6,805 km of roads has been improved at a cost of ₹2,074 crore and 1,652 road safety projects have been completed at a cost of ₹662 crore. A total of 10 bypass roads have been completed at a cost of ₹307.8 crore. They include Manachanallur (Phase 1), Illuppur, Parthibanur, Rasipuram (Phase 1 Division-2), Bhavani (Phase II), Mudukulathur, Tiruttani, Coonoor, and Namakkal (Phase I). Under the Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Corporation, the Vandalur-Walajabad Road has been upgraded from four-lane to six-lane at a cost of ₹180.09 crore, and ₹1,372 crore was allocated for the conversion of 1,049 causeways into high-level bridges, the release said. As for projects with NABARD loan assistance and State funding, 278 bridges have been constructed at a cost of ₹1,137.62 crore. Overbridges Eight road overbridges have been constructed at a cost of ₹813.25 crore. The ongoing major projects include Coimbatore Western Bypass, Mannargudi (Phase-I), Ambasamudram, Tiruchengode (Phase I & II), Bhavani (Phase I), Namakkal (Phase-II and III), Pollachi Western Bypass, Aruppukkottai Western Bypass, Kamuthi-Sivaganga (Phase-I), Uthiramerur, Thuraiyur (Phase-II), Tambaram Eastern Bypass (two sections), and Thiruporur/ Kelambakkam. Under the Integrated Road Infrastructure Development Scheme, 2,264 km of road projects are being implemented at a cost of ₹8,076 crore, and 69 bridge/culvert projects are being executed at a cost of ₹694 crore, 134 causeways are being converted into high-level bridges at a cost of ₹763.80 crore, 32 high-level bridges are being constructed under the NABARD loan assistance scheme at a cost of ₹375.32 crore, and 19 high-level bridges are being constructed under the State-funding scheme at a cost of ₹596.64 crore, the release said.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Continuing accidents turn the spotlight on greenfield project plan for Tiruchi-Karur Highway
The road accident causing the death of the Revenue Divisional Officer of Musiri on the Tiruchi-Karur Highway on Thursday has brought to the fore the demand for building a greenfield highway between the two cities. Activists have expressed concern that there was no sign of accidents coming down even after the State Highways Department widened the stretch a few years ago. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had widened the Tiruchi-Karur Highway beyond Thindukarai several years ago. A bypass was to be laid between Panjapur on Tiruchi-Madurai highway and Thindukarai. The 11-km stretch from Thindukarai to Tiruchi, with sharp and dangerous curves, was widened from its earlier width of seven metres to up to 10.5 metres under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme 2019-20. However, accidents continue unabated on the road, the most recent one claiming the life of the senior Revenue Department Officer at Kadiyakurichi near Jeeeyapuram. Locals cite overspeeding as the main reason for accidents. Commuters traversing the stretch every day face the brunt of the problem. Accidents are frequent in Jeeyapuram and Pettavaithalai police station limits. 'The widening of the stretch does not seem have to helped bring down accidents,' said P. Ayyarappan, a member of District Road Safety Council and president, Road Users Welfare Association. There has been a number of accidents involving barricades, which are placed to force the vehicles to slow down, at various places, he said. Conceding that there was a need to give a push to the greenfield highway project as a long term measure, Mr. Ayyarappan suggested that medians could be built wherever possible in the meantime. 'There is enough space to widen the road by another two metres on either side at various stretches of the highway,' Mr. Ayyarappan said. Once the Panjapur-Thindukarai bypass is built, traffic density is bound to increase beyond Thindukarai. Speed guns should be installed and overspeeding should be penalised. Besides, highway patrolling by the police should be intensified, he added. Although the NHAI is preparing a detailed project report for the greenfield highway from Tiruchi to Karur, it has been progressing at a slow pace. The new alignment is planned 'at an offset of 12 to 13 km from the existing highway.' However, according to sources, the DPR is expected to be completed in another 10 to 12 months. Plea rejected The NHAI had rejected a plea from the public to develop an alternative road between Allithurai and Mayanur Tollgate. N. Jamaluddin, a civic activist, said the NHAI, in a reply to his petition on the matter in September 2024, had said that the task of preparing the DPR for the greenfield highway had been given to a Hyderabad agency in December 2017. 'The DPR preparation is taking such a long time while fatal accidents are taking place every other week so much so that we are forced to avoid the highway. The NHAI should expedite the process,' he said. The plan was discussed at the recent meeting of District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee by Tiruchi and Karur MPs Durai Vaiko and S. Jothimani and both had promised to take up the matter, Mr. Ayyarappan said. At a press conference on Thursday, Mr. Durai Vaiko said he would take up the issue with the NHAI officials soon.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Highways Department to repair Palakkarai Main Road within a few days
Restoration work will be taken up in the next few days on the Palakkarai Main Road, which had been dug up for laying underground sewer lines, sources in the Highways Department said on Thursday. The poor condition of the road, following the execution of the UGD work, had triggered a road blockade by irate residents near Warehouse in the city on Wednesday. According to Highways Department sources, the UGD work was completed five days ago and the road, which is under the maintenance of the department, will be restored within the next few days. Sources said a proposal to relay the Thanjavur Main Road for a stretch of about 1.2 km from the Palpannai Junction towards Gandhi Market is expected to be sanctioned soon. The work would be taken up under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme. The road has developed several potholes after the execution of the underground sewer line work, much to the inconvenience of motorists.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Construction of bypass to reduce traffic congestion in Tirupattur town begins
Work on the construction of a four-lane bypass between Ratchamangalam and Damalerimuthur villages on Tirupattur-Singarapettai High Road to decongest Tirupattur town has begun. Officials of the State Highways said the bypass was aimed at providing an alternative route for long-distance travellers and commercial vehicles to go to places such as Dharmapuri, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, and Bargur at Damalerimuthur village. 'Ambulances find it difficult to reach the nearest government hospitals via the narrow stretches of the town as lorries use the same roads to reach the Salem-Vaniyambadi Highway. The bypass will reduce traffic in the town,' S. Priya, a motorist, said. The bypass — to be laid for a distance of 14.35 km in two phases — will also help local motorists to make use of the Tirupattur-Singarapettai High Road to reach the centre of the town. It will be constructed at least 3 km-4 km away from the road to prevent commercial vehicles from entering the town while travelling to other districts. At present, the key stretch witnesses continuous flow of heavy vehicles, resulting in traffic congestion and accidents on the route. 'As per estimates, more than 14,000 vehicles pass through Tirupattur town to go to Krishnagiri, Salem and Chennai. The work on the bypass will be completed in 2026,' K.R. Rajathi, Assistant Executive Engineer, State Highways (NABARD), told The Hindu. Funded under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme 2023-24, the ₹41.5 crore work includes 10-metre-wide carriageway, 1.2-metre-wide median, footpath, LED street lights and high mast lamps. It will connect at least eight farming villages to Tirupattur town. It will also help villages in Natrampalli, Jolarpet and Tirupattur panchayat unions to easily access key towns such as Ambur, Vaniyambadi, and Vellore.
