The State Highways Department is all set to construct a rail over-bridge at NGGO Colony in Asokapuram village panchayat near Thudiyalur here at a cost of 44 crore. Work on the over-bridge, which would be one kilometre long, is expected to begin in another 30 days after the completion of land acquisition, according to officials.
The rail over-bridge would start near the South Indian Bank on NGGO Colony Road and end near the Asian Paints office at Teachers Colony. It would connect Mettupalayam Road to Sathyamangalam Road via Idigarai and significantly ease the daily travellers’ commute to Idigarai and Kovilpalayam, areas with numerous schools, colleges and firms.”Half of the project cost will be met by the railways.
The level crossing on the stretch closes 15 times a day. According to our 2022 survey, around 26,924 vehicles pass through this level crossing daily, causing frequent traffic congestion when the gates are closed. The rail over-bridge will allow traffic to flow freely,” said a highways department official.
He said service roads would also be set up on either side of the over-bridge. “The service roads will be 18ft wide. We have acquired 3.40 acres for this purpose.”
Recently, railway, state highways, revenue, road safety wing, TNSTC and corporation officials had conducted a survey to identify an alternative route to facilitate the rail over-bridge construction.
“Police have suggested that we widen the curves at four locations along the proposed alternative road and relocate a few electricity poles. We expect to complete these works in 30 days, after which the district administration will announce the alternative route. Construction of the over-bridge will begin after that,” the official said.
