Survey on for building flyover on NH 67 bypassing Bhel factory

Trichy: Bowing to demands from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has undertaken a survey to ascertain the resources required for building a flyover connecting Thuvakudi and Thiruverumbur. This follows the grossly unsafe environment prevailing for road users, particularly two-wheeler riders, using the Trichy-Thanjavur stretch of NH 67 near the Bhel factory. The proposed flyover bypassing the Bhel unit in Thuvakudi is expected to decongest the stretch.
With the Bhel Kailasapuram township located on the west side of NH 67 and the manufacturing units on the east side, thousands of people including Bhel employees and their family members cross the highway every day. Accidents have been a routine on the stretch which is a gateway for delta districts. It was in this backdrop that Bhel employees recently approached NHAI through their management to establish a flyover near the factory. Workers said that the flyover would enable the vehicles commuting between delta districts and Trichy to skip the factory.

Bhel staff say that since the existing Ganesa point roundabout near Thiruverumbur taluk office is unscientifically constructed, heavy vehicles often turn turtle while negotiating it. “Ganesa point roundabout is highly prone to accidents. We urged NHAI to build a flyover between Boiler plant police station and government ITI to minimise the traffic near Bhel,” N Saravanan, assistant general secretary, Labour Progressive Federation, Bhel, said.

The flyover is likely to span 2 kms linking Thuvakudi with Thiruverumbur bypassing both Ganesa point roundabout and Bhel factory and township. “The area around Ganesa point roundabout should have been constructed with a slope sliding towards the roundabout. But the slope in the roundabout slides away from the centre. The faulty design should be corrected,” S Pushpavanam, secretary, consumer protection council of Tamil Nadu said. Sources said that Bhel had also agreed to provide land required for constructing the flyover.

When contacted, official sources with NHAI said that a study was under way to identify the requirements and facilities available for the flyover. “Regional office of NHAI was approached by the Bhel employees to establish a flyover on NH 67 near the Bhel factory. Our consultant has been told to study the requirements and arrive at the fund estimate,” an official source with NHAI told TOI.

While Bhel employees claimed that the flyover would go on till government ITI college, NHAI sources said that the proposal covered only up to the Thiruverumbur taluk office.

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