Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083050190100.htm

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Road overbridge only by October

L. Renganathan

SLUGGISH: Construction of the RoB at Lalapet has been progressing at a tardy pace.

KARUR: Construction of the road over bridge (ROB) at Lalapet, in lieu of the existing level crossing, is dragging, thus prolonging the misery of travellers on the Karur-Tiruchi section of the NH 67.

The Rs. 24.19-crore project, for which the foundation stone was laid in October 1998 but did not take off till February 2006, is expected to be completed by end October, one year behind the revised schedule. Sources indicate that about 18 per cent of the work remains to be completed.

Several time delays have taken a toll of the project that was supposed to ameliorate the sufferings of the travelling public who have to wait agonisingly on either side of the railway crossing at Lalapet at present. Sources familiar with the project disclosed that 16 of the total 18 deck slabs had been fixed. While one deck slab could be put in place by September 20, the important one that crosses the railway track has to be cleared by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Bangalore, before installation.

The Tiruchi-Karur section of the NH 67 is a busy stretch and the traffic intensity is estimated to be in the tune of around 15,000 passenger car units per day.