Odathurai bridge hits a roadblock
Although construction of the new bridge along the
Cauvery banks at Odathurai in the city has reached an advanced stage, it
could still take several months for the project to be completed.
The bridge, which would connect the Chinthamani area of the city with
the Chennai bypass, was sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 28.50 crore. The
project took off in March 2010 but faced several glitches right from the
start and has overshot its scheduled completion date in March 2012.
The Highways Department is unable to complete the work on the city side
of the bridge because of ownership dispute over a piece of land which
is pending before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
The
piece of land comes under the area that was identified for acquisition
for the project and the Highways Department has deposited the
compensation for the same with the Revenue Department.
The
Highways Department has impleaded in the case before the Madurai Bench
of the Madras High Court and sought permission to allow it to take up
the work at the site in dispute pending the disposal of the case.
Meanwhile,
the Railways has recently begun work on constructing the portion of the
bridge across the track after much delay. Indications are that it could
take six to eight months to complete. Only after the bridge on the
railway land was complete, the Highways Department could construct the
adjacent spans on either side.
Meanwhile, the
contractor who had taken up the project on behalf of the Highways
Department has applied for foreclosure of the contract in view of the
delay. If the request is conceded, the department would have to prepare
estimates at current rate and call for fresh tenders, which could entail
further delay, sources indicated.
The delay in
completion of this bridge would lead to a chain reaction and slow down
the pace on another bridge that is to come up over the railway line at
Periyarnagar in Thiruvanaikovil. The Railways and the Highways
Department have commenced work on the project, but the main structure
could be built only after the Odathurai bridge is opened for traffic.
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