Highways Department begins construction of overbridge near Tiruchi Town Railway Station

The State Highways Department has begun construction of an overbridge across the level- crossing on the Cauvery Road near the Town Railway Station in Tiruchi.

The State Highways Department has begun construction of an overbridge across the level- crossing on the Cauvery Road near the Town Railway Station in Tiruchi.

The flyover across the level-crossing situated between Srirangam and Town Railway Stations on Tiruchi-Chennai Chord Line, was sanctioned in August 2022. Although the State government had granted administrative sanction for its construction at an estimate of ₹23.45 crore, land acquisition issues delayed the project.

The flyover will be built by the Highways Department and the Railways on a 50:50 cost sharing basis. The flyover will be about 750 metres long and is scheduled to be completed by July next year. It will come as a huge relief for local residents who were exasperated by the the frequent closure of the railway gate on the busy section.

The level-crossing is on Cauvery Road branching off from Odathurai Road on the south bank of the Cauvery and connects East Boulevard Road leading towards Gandhi Market/Thanjavur Road in the city. The Odathurai Road leads towards Chathiram Bus Stand and Cauvery bridge on the one side and the Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass on the other.

“Rail traffic is heavy on the section and traffic snarls are frequent on the road whenever the gate is closed. We hope the Highways and the Railways will work together to complete the project at the earliest. Once completed, the road will provide an effective alternative route to Gandhi Market,” said Ibrahim Shah, a local resident.

Construction of the flyover entailed the acquisition of about 5,612 square metres of private land. According to sources in the highways department, the land acquisition process had been completed, except for one property. The department had taken possession of the acquired land. Some concrete structures on the acquired properties were demolished.