New ROB at Srirangam to start

Collector K.S. Palanisamy and Revenue and Highways officials discuss about land to be acquired for the new bridge at Thiruvanaikovil. The new four-lane ROB will replace the existing narrow two-lane bridge The State Highways Department is expected to commence construction of the road overbridge (ROB) across the railway track at Periyar Nagar on Thiruvanaikovil Trunk Road in the city before the end of January. The new four-lane ROB will replace the existing narrow two-lane bridge that has turned a traffic bottleneck in Srirangam in recent years. The State government has sanctioned the project at an estimated cost of about Rs. 47.30 crore.

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a public sector undertaking, is constructing the railway portion of the ROB. Tenders for the construction of the main bridge have been called and the bids would be opened on December 10. The work is expected to begin after Pongal after the completion of the tendering process, an official of the Highways Department told The Hindu . In March last year, the State Highways Department has commenced construction of a subway and other minor bridges as part of the project. A limited use subway across the railway line and a few other components, including minor bridges across the Thirumanjana Cauvery and Kar Vaical, were to be constructed. The Highways Department took up construction of the subway first so as to ensure that vehicles passing through the busy road could be diverted through it. Ultimately, the subway will serve as the route for vehicles for Kumbakonathan Salai from Periyar Nagar. The height of subway will be nearly four metres against the normal height of 2.5 metres so that even buses could be operated through it. Once the subway was ready, traffic would be diverted through it facilitating the construction of the new bridge. However, construction of the subway has been progressing on a slow pace owing to water logging. With the site located close to the Cauvery, there was heavy seepage leading to mudslides at the spot. This work is expected to gather pace in January. However, the official said that once the Odathurai bridge was opened for traffic by January, traffic could be diverted through it and construction of the subway could be taken up in full swing. On Thursday, Collector K.S.Palanisamy inspected the wetlands to be acquired for the project at Thimmaraya Samudiram and Jambukeswaram villages. About 499 square metres of wetlands in Jambukeswaram and another 43 square meters in Thimmaraya Samudiram villages have to be acquired for laying the service lanes.. .