Akkaraipettai ROB likely to open soon as works near completion

With operation works nearing completion, the long-awaited Road Over Bridge (ROB) astatine Akkaraipettai successful Nagapattinam is expected to beryllium opened for nationalist usage soon, bringing alleviation to motorists and fishermen who person for years faced delays astatine the railway level-crossing adjacent Nagapattinam railway station.

The 1.31-km-long bridge, being constructed astatine an estimated outgo of astir ₹104.73 crore, is expected to importantly easiness postulation congestion and amended connectivity betwixt Nagapattinam municipality and coastal sportfishing villages specified arsenic Akkaraipettai and Keechankuppam.

The project, sanctioned successful 2018 initially progressed astatine a dilatory gait owing to delays successful railway clearances and method issues. Officials said the enactment gained momentum aft it was resumed successful 2022 by the State Highways Department nether the Thanjavur division.

Sources said astir 90% of the operation enactment had been completed. However, drainage works, attack roads, bypass connectivity and definite utility-related works involving the Electricity Board and municipal medication were inactive pending. Officials indicated that the remaining works were expected to beryllium completed by August this year.

The ROB is being constructed adjacent the engaged level-crossing located a fewer 100 metres from the entranceway of Nagapattinam railway station, wherever agelong postulation snarls are a regular occurrence. Ambulances, schoolhouse vehicles, fish-laden trucks and regular commuters are often stranded for respective minutes whenever the railway gross is closed.

Fishermen and residents said the span would amended proscription of food from the harbour, fortify commercialized and enactment rider question to adjacent spiritual and commercialized centres, including Velankanni and Nagore.

“We impulse the authorities to expedite the completion of the overbridge and guarantee capable transport infrastructure to enactment fishing, harbour trade, rider ferry services, pilgrimages and the needs of students, workers and the wide public,” said R.M.P. Rajendira Nattar, president of the Indian National Fishermen Union.

In a practice submitted to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Mr. Rajendira Nattar requested that the Chief Minister inaugurate the span aft completion and dedicate it to the public.

Officials said the bridge, erstwhile operational, was expected to amended postulation travel and supply seamless entree to coastal habitations, too contributing to the section system done faster proscription and commercialized activities.