The state highways department has okayed the proposal to upgrade the Trichy-Thuraiyur state highway into a four-lane under the Chennai Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor Project (CKICP). A government order was issued to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for finalising plans to add amenities and create new bypass roads for skipping congested towns and villages on the stretch.
The existing highway connecting Thuraiyur town with the district headquarters has a two-lane road and is the major accessway for the remote and villages around Thuraiyur and Uppiliyapuram. The 32km long road from Nochiyam on the outskirts of the city will connect the Pirivu road roundabout in Thuraiyur town.
As per the proposal, the project shall involve land acquisition, officials said. “Soon, we will start the work for a detailed project report (DPR) to finalise the extent of land to be acquired, amenities needed, and the project fund,” an official source said.
Officials said that the Trichy-Thuraiyur highway may get a similar upgrade as the Thuraiyur-Perambalur highway which was recently improved under the CKICP scheme at 132 crore.
“Developing the Trichy-Thuraiyur highway would improve quick connectivity between Trichy and Salem districts too. The burden on accident-prone Trichy-Namakkal-Salem highway would reduce,” Puthanampatti Saravanan, a road safety activist said.
Once developed into a four-lane the highway would provide an alternative connectivity between Trichy and Salem districts via Thuraiyur, Thammampatti, and Vazhapadi towns. Since the highway is home to several unexplored ancient temples and Pachamalai hill station, locals welcomed the proposal to promote investments in agriculture, industry and tourism sectors in one of the underdeveloped regions in the district.