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Proposal to restore road to Dhanushkodi

RAMANATHAPURAM: Dhanushkodi, which was rendered a ghost town by the devastating 1964 cyclone, could soon regain its glory.

The road between Mukuntharayar Chathiram and Dhanushkodi, which was cut off from the rest of the country on December 23, 1964, is being restored after a gap of 44 years.

The good news is that it will be re-laid as per the norms of National Highways, as this will be part of NH 49.

A proposal has been sent to the government to implement the project at a cost of Rs.16 crore. Work is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2009.

“The road will be re-laid on the same alignment. Though geological changes have taken place after the 1964 cyclone, there is not much of a change along the original road alignment from Mukuntharayar Chathiram to Dhanushkodi,” says Collector R. Kirlosh Kumar.

Other facilities such as electricity and telephone will follow. “Establishing the road means that all other essential facilities will also be established,” says Mr. Kumar. It will boost tourism in the region in a big way. It will facilitate a large number of tourists to visit Dhanushkodi after Rameswaram.

Tour operators are ecstatic over the plan. “Dhanushkodi is already a famous name in the tourism circuit of the country. The plan will bring more tourists to Rameswaram,” says a leading hotelier of Rameswaram.

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