Key causeways across Palar to be opened for traffic from January

They were damaged during the heavy rain last month in Vellore and Tirupattur districts, causing residents of over 40 villages to make detours

Key causeways across Palar river in Vellore and Tirupattur districts, will be opened for vehicular traffic from January 1 as restoration of these damaged facilities are nearing completion.

These causeways, which connect Vellore and Tirupattur, through border towns like Ambur and Katpadi, were damaged during the heavy rain last month that resulted in the discharge of excess rainwater into the Palar and its tributaries like Poonai and Agaram, flooding areas along Vellore, Ranipet and Tirupattur districts.

Since then, affected residents in over 40 villages had to make a detour of at least eight km to reach big towns like Ambur, Katpadi, Wallajah and the Benguluru Highway (NH: 48) for their daily needs. "As these causeways remain a key connectivity, officials were working round-the-clock to complete the repair works by end of the month," said Vellore Collector P. Kumaravel Pandian.