5 months ago
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Work to widen the tribal roadworthy that navigates done reserve forests (RFs) betwixt Jamunamarathur and Chengam atop Jawadhu Hills successful Tiruvannamalai commenced connected Tuesday.
Officials of the State Highways said that the existing azygous lane agelong successful the forests was erstwhile a pathway that was utilized mostly by tribals successful the hills. Many years ago, the pathway was bitumen-topped, chiefly for wood officials to patrol the hills to forestall poaching and different amerciable activities.
Since then, the agelong was not re-laid. “The widening of the constrictive agelong successful the forests volition assistance tribals question safely to areas successful the plains. They tin besides transport workplace nutrient to section markets. The full enactment volition beryllium completed successful 2026,” K. Manohar, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Chengam), told The Hindu.
Accompanied by Collector K. Tharpagaraj, B. Krishnasamy, and P. Gnanavel, Superintending Engineer (SE) and Divisional Engineer (DE) of State Highways respectively, the Minister for Public Works E.V. Velu laid the instauration chromatic for the widening work. “The caller two-lane agelong volition assistance vehicles including ambulances and mini-buses to scope tribal hamlets successful the hills. There volition beryllium a imperishable roadworthy connectivity to scope large towns successful the plains,” said V. Mayandi, a resident.
As per plan, the agelong volition beryllium widened from its existing 3.75 metres to 5.5 metres betwixt Keel Paramanandal colony adjacent Chengam municipality and Athipattu, a region of 38.50 kms, successful the hills. Funded nether the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme (CRIDP 2025-26), the enactment volition beryllium done astatine a outgo of ₹ 12 crore. The widened agelong volition person paved shoulders to supply durability to the carriageway and forestall immoderate accidental autumn of vehicles into the valley.
Also, the agelong volition person signages, reflectors, and roadworthy markings to guarantee information of motorists. Blinkers and LED streetlights volition beryllium avoided successful the agelong to let escaped question of chaotic animals successful the hills during night. Once widened, the agelong volition get regular autobus services connected the route.
As the constrictive agelong is surrounded by forests, the agelong besides navigates a bid of culverts and causeways successful the hills. The State Highways volition conception astatine slightest 158 culverts and 1 insignificant span to discharge excess rainwater from the hills without affecting postulation question and damaging the carriageway connected the route. Drains volition besides beryllium built to a region of 7,300 metres on the widened agelong to forestall waterlogging.
As portion of information measures for motorists, a retaining partition volition beryllium built astatine 8 identified hairpin bends successful the hills, covering a region of 1,130 metres. On an average, the retaining partition volition beryllium 15 ft successful height.
