FCC

Palayamkottai - Thoothukudi road finally revamped

2023-08-11

The four-lane highway was observed to be filled with cracks and potholes, leading to accidents on an almost daily basis, particularly after dusk. It was noted that this road was utilised by a multitude of vehicles, which included heavy transports carrying imported logs and 40-ft-long containers originating from VOC Port in Thoothukudi. These vehicles travelled towards districts such as Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, as well as the neighbouring state of Kerala. Remarkably, despite being a highly frequented route, this road had not undergone any re-laying procedures since the inauguration of the four-lane highway for traffic, a period spanning 15 years.

For a proper understanding of the deplorable and hazardous state of this highway, a comparison was drawn with the meticulously laid Kanniyakumari – Tirunelveli stretch. M Rajan, a cab driver hailing from Tirunelveli, commented, "This road is in a worse condition than a majority of rural roads, yet the National Highways Authority of India continues to collect toll fees." At the Vagaikulam toll plaza, which consisted of merely three lanes on each side, two designated for Fastag usage and one for cash payments, a perpetual crowd was observed. This occurrence contradicted the very intention behind introducing the Fastag system. Often, the vehicle registration numbers could not be read by the scanners, resulting in the attendants having to step out of their booths armed with handheld scanners. This practice led to a congestion of vehicles, with impatient drivers sounding their horns in frustration.

An immensely damaged bridge spanning the Tamirabharani river at Vallanadu remained unrepaired, despite an expenditure of more than Rs 150 million on repair attempts. The issue was escalated due to repeated complaints and legal action in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. Subsequently, the NHAI allocated Rs 210 million for the repair of a bridge that had been initially constructed for Rs 250 million merely a decade ago.

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