Tuticorin-Ramanathapuram highway to be upgraded

The State Highways Department plans to upgrade the 117.9-km road stretch between Tuticorin and Ramanthapuram to national highway standards by December 15, 2008, on an outlay of Rs. 132.91 crore. This stretch is a component of the `eastern corridor,' connecting Tuticorin with Nagapattinam.

Speaking to The Hindu , V. Yesu Dhas, Divisional Engineer of Highways (Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project), said that the crust thickness of 17 district and village roads on this stretch would be raised uniformly to 70 cm. It would facilitate in bearing heavy volume of traffic envisaged in the sector once upgraded. The road would be widened to seven metres from the present 3.7 metres to facilitate two-lane traffic movement; 124 culverts and seven bridges would be reconstructed.

Preliminary works such as soil testing commenced recently. Wherever subsoil was found expansive in nature with higher clay content, it would be replaced by gravel sand to strengthen the base, Mr Dhas said.

Pre-construction activities such as shifting of water supply lines and electricity poles, resettlement of houses, besides land acquisition, is under way.

Mr Dhas said that 37.5-km long water pipes were shifted at a cost of Rs. 143.96 lakh with assistance from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.

Besides, 465 electricity poles and three transformers were shifted to facilitate widening of the road.

The remaining 130 poles and a transformer would be shifted before this month-end, Mr. Dhas said.

Under resettlement and rehabilitation component of the project, 15 houses and four shops were constructed in Tuticorin district and three houses in Ramanathapuram district, to rehabilitate those who were shifted from the roadside.

Mr. Dhas said the upgradation of the road between the two towns would act as a catalyst for the development of 22 revenue villages (11 villages in each district).

Source: The Hindu