Date:27/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/27/stories/2005092712950100.htm

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Plan to re-lay damaged roads

S. Ganesan

Over 200 works to be executed as part of the programme

AWAITING REMEDY: A gaping trench, dug up for laying underground sewer lines, left uncovered in Tiruchi. — Photo: M. Moorthy

TIRUCHI: Motorists can look forward to some relief from the badly damaged city roads in Tiruchi.

The Corporation has chalked out a Rs.25-crore civic development programme that would include re-laying of some of the important roads dug up for laying underground sewer lines over the past couple of years.

The Corporation has planned to execute over 200 works as part of the programme sanctioned under the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Road Development Scheme 2005.

Apart from re-laying the damaged roads, blacktopping of kutcha roads, strengthening of roads on bus routes and construction of roadside pavements with drainages would also be taken up.

The State Government would provide a grant of Rs.6 crores for the programme, while the Corporation would contribute Rs.9 crores from its own funds and mop up Rs.10 crores as loan from the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDCO).

The programme could not have come at a better time for the Corporation as it had drawn flak from the public over the delay in repairing roads, especially after a couple of fatal accidents.

As per the proposal drawn up by the Corporation, about 120 roads would be re-laid at a cost of nearly Rs.11 crores. Of this, a lion's share of Rs.4.65 crores would go to the Srirangam zone, where roads were dug up extensively for the sewer project.

The Ariyamangalam zone would get about Rs.2.75 crores, followed by the Golden Rock zone with Rs.2.64 crores.

The K.Abishekapuram zone would get the lowest allocation under this component at Rs.1.24 crores. Apart from this, the Corporation would spend about Rs.4.93 crores for strengthening bus route roads in all the four zones of the city.

Some of the prominent roads that are to be re-laid are the Gandhi Salai in Srirangam, Fort Station Road, East Boulevard Road, Williams Road, Rockins Road, Reynolds Road, Royal Road, the Collector's Office Road, etc.