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The task manager of National Highway Authority of India -Salem Project Implementation Unit (NHAI- PIU), S. Srinivasulu, said that 41.53% of the enactment connected the Thoppur Ghat Improvement Project connected NH-44 has been completed.
Following predominant accidents successful the Thoppur Ghat section, the Union Road Transport Ministry announced that the alignment of the ghat conception would beryllium improved. The task is aimed astatine alleviating the difficulties of roadworthy users owed to steep gradients successful the area. Based connected the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the instauration for the enactment connected March 11, 2024.
On Monday, Mr. Srinivasulu inspected the ongoing works on with the officials astatine Mettur-Thoppur Junction and astatine Anjaneyar Temple.
Mr. Srinivasalu told reporters aboriginal that the 6.60 km-long task is being implemented nether the Hybrid Annuity Mode at an awarded outgo of ₹548 crore, against an estimated task outgo of ₹905 crore. The enactment started connected March 21, 2025, and is scheduled for completion connected March 20, 2028.
The enactment is connected a par with the scheduled timeline. Under the project, the existing four-lane is being upgraded into a six-lane corridor with paved shoulders, incorporating advanced engineering solutions to amended safety. Out of the 6.60 km, 3.10 km passes done Thoppur and Barigam reserve forests successful Dharmapuri district.
In the remaining 3.50 km, the Salem territory covers 1.60 km and the Dharmapuri territory 1.90 km. For this project, 13.427 hectares of wood onshore was acquired and successful instrumentality gross lands were provided to the Forest Department, on with a outgo of ₹13 crore paid, Mr. Srinivasulu added.
Stating that 80 radical died successful this ghat conception from 2018, the task manager said that this fig includes lone those who died connected the spot; those who succumbed to injuries successful the infirmary are excluded. In the past 8 years (from 2018 to 2026), 630 accidents person occurred successful this ghat conception and 2,173 radical were affected. The NHAI usually sanctions ₹50 crore for laying 1 km of road. However, ₹137.32 crore has been sanctioned per km for this project.
Out of 6.60 km, 3.68 km is an elevated corridor. Through this project, the steep gradient volition beryllium reduced from 9% to 3%. Under this project, 83 piers are to beryllium constructed, ranging successful tallness from 8 to 50 meters. This is simply a challenging project, arsenic the enactment is being carried retired successful the hilly terrain without affecting the postulation flow. On an average, 60,000 vehicles usage this ghat conception each day. Upon completion of this project, accidents would trim drastically, the task manager added.
During the inspection, operation task caput T.K. Sinha, Press Information Bureau (PIB) manager P. Arun Kumar, media adjunct of NHAI R. Sujatha, and different officials participated.
