Three bridges across Cheyyar river near Chengam, Polur towns inaugurated

Three caller high-level bridges crossed Cheyyar, a tributary of Then Pennai, adjacent Kalasapakkam and Chengam towns successful Tiruvannamalai were opened connected Wednesday, fulfilling the long-standing request of residents successful astatine slightest 45 surrounding villages.

Officials of State Highways, which built the caller facility, said that 3 caller bridges were constructed betwixt Kalur - Kuruvimalai villages; Poondi - Pazhakovil villages adjacent Kalasapakkam town; and Thekavadi - Kezha Kollai Kottai villages adjacent Chengam municipality successful the district. “We person to locomotion connected the adust riverbed to scope the nearest wellness centre. Ambulances instrumentality detours to assistance victims. The caller bridges person ended our ordeal,” said G. Pandi, a motorist. 

The caller bridges volition extremity a detour of astatine slightest 20 kms for residents successful surrounding farming villages to scope nearest towns similar Polur, Arani, Chengam, and Tiruvannamalai. “The caller installation volition facilitate casual transport of workplace nutrient by farmers from villages on the river. Buses tin besides beryllium operated successful these villages, utilizing the caller facility. The caller bridges were built to withstand monolithic floods during monsoon,” T. Murugan, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Rural Roads), Tiruvannamalai, told The Hindu.

Minister for Public Works E.V. Velu inaugurated the bridges successful the beingness of Deputy Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, K. Pitchandi, and Collector K. Tharpagaraj.

Funded by NABARD nether the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) 2022-23, the 3 caller bridges, which outgo ₹36.11 crore together, are 167.44 metres agelong and 8.40 metres wide each — capable for 2 buses to usage it astatine a time.

As the Cheyyar and Then Pennai rivers witnesser travel of excess rainwater during monsoon, the caller bridges were built astatine a tallness of 4.93 metres from the riverbed to forestall inundation of the carriageway and harm to its structure. The bridges person tiled footpaths, LED lights, inlets to discharge rainwater into the river, reflectors, motion boards, and manus railings.

The bridges are a lifeline for surrounding villages including Annaivadi, Kalur, Seethmpatty, Pathiyavadi, Salaianur, Annilai, and Kovur.