Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has accorded administrative
sanction and made fund allocations towards a number of projects aimed at
improving the road infrastructure and reducing traffic congestion in
various parts of the State.

The projects include a new bridge to
link Tiruchy with Srirangam, road widening works in Kodaikanal, repair
and renovation of a bridge to improve access to Kumbakonam and an
improvement of roads in Ariyalur and Perambalur districts. Jayalalithaa
also ordered the allocation of Rs 1.08 crore towards the preparation of
detailed project reports for two flyover projects at Salem’s busy Five
Roads Junction and Kurangu Chavadi Junction.

The CM accorded
administrative sanction to improve connectivity between Tiruchy and
Srirangam, which had been hit because of the poor condition of a
British-era bridge on the Chennai-Dindigul highway. Heavy vehicles have
been barred from the bridge due to safety concerns, forcing them to take
a roundabout route leading to traffic congestion in the surrounding
areas. Jayalalithaa sanctioned the construction of a new four-lane
bridge to replace the old one. This, together with the construction of a
small bridge across Ayyan Vaikkal and development works at surrounding
traffic intersections, are to be taken up at a cost of Rs 81 crore.

Jayalalithaa
also gave administrative sanction for a Rs 18.25 crore project to widen
17 km of the road network in Kodaikanal. She also sanctioned Rs 5 crore
towards repair and restoration of a bridge on the Vikravandi-Kumbakonam
highway. The bridge had been shut owing to its poor state, and its
reopening would reduce the travel time and distance to cover the
stretch.

In addition, the CM sanctioned the upgradation of 78.8 km
of roads at a cost of Rs 152.37 crore in Ariyalur and Perambalur
districts, which were damaged due to the frequent movement of heavy
vehicles travelling to the large number of limestone quarries and cement
factories in the region.