Karur highway stretch will be strengthened soon, says Collector

A proposal has been forwarded to the government for widening and strengthening the Tiruchi-Karur National Highway between the Kudamuritti and Andhanallur at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 crore, Collector K. Rajamani said on Thursday.

A proposal to build a new bridge across the Kudamuritti in the city at an estimated cost of Rs. 10 crore has also been forwarded to the government for approval, he said speaking at a meeting of the District Road Safety Council here.

He pointed out that since the stretch between the Kudamuritti and Andhanallur on Karur highway was a narrow one, motorists should drive only below 40km speed. Also, drivers of heavy vehicles should not overtake other vehicles.

The stretch was in poor and neglected condition ever since the National Highway Authority of India developed and strengthened NH 67 beyond Pettavaithalai. Since a by-pass was to be laid between Panchapur and Jeeyapuram, the stretch was left with the State Highways department.

The 12-km stretch running along the banks of the Cauvery was narrow and offered little scope for widening. Residents wanted the stretch to be strengthened and improved to ensure the safety of motorists.

Referring to another long-pending demand from the public, Mr. Rajamani directed the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to take steps to operate bus services on East Boulevard Road. Residents off the road had been left without direct access to public transport as town buses stopped plying on the road for many years, citing the traffic bottleneck behind Gandhi Market. Now, that the wholesale section of Gandhi Market was to be shifted to the new market, the demand for restoration of bus services on East Boulevard Road had grown stronger.

The Collector instructed officials to ensure that all vehicles transporting garbage were covered with nets. They should operate within a speed limit of 25 km on roads that did not have pedestrian pavements. Two wheeler riders should wear helmets for their safety. During the current year, the city traffic police booked 1,252 cases for various traffic offences including drunken driving, overloading and use of mobile phone while driving. Driving licences of 937 persons were temporarily suspended for various offences.

source