DPR preparation for widening Tiruchi-Karaikudi highway reaches advanced stage

The preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for widening the Tiruchi-Karaikudi National Highway into a four-lane way has reached an advanced stage of completion.

The 81-km NH from Tiruchi to Karaikudi was widened as a two-way road with paved shoulders, besides constructing culverts, about 15 years ago. The section was initially planned to be made a four-lane highway. But the volume of traffic did not support the proposal at that time. However, the volume of traffic went up gradually over the years. It has increased manifolds since the stretch was opened to traffic.

Considering the demand of the road users, the NHAI carried out a traffic movement survey between Tiruchi and Pudukottai two years ago and it revealed that the stretch had become eligible to be widened into a four-lane way. According to sources, it carries more than 20,000 passenger car units (PCU) a day, which is 10,000 more against the standard norm of NHAI to form a four-lane highway.

Based on the high volume of traffic, the NHAI initiated a proposal to widen the highway into a four-lane way and appointed a consultant to prepare DPR. The sources said it would be completed within six months. The alignment of the highway had been finalised and the Andhra Pradesh consultant was expected to get the mandatory concurrence of the Collectors of Tiruchi, Pudukottai, and Sivaganga districts for the alignment. The land plan survey (LPS) will be finalised once the alignment was accepted by them.

The sources said the NHAI already had 30 metres of land along the stretch of Tiruchi and Karaikudi. It required to possess 45 metres of land to convert two-lane road into a four-lane highway. It was supposed to acquire 7.5 metres of land on both sides of the highway. It might not require land acquisition at Keeranur, Pudukottai, Karaikudi and Thirumayam, where bypasses existed.