Work begins to lay first ring road to connect remote tribal hamlets atop Yelagiri Hills

Remote tribal hamlets atop Yelagiri Hills, which form part of Jawadhu Hills near Jolarpet town in Tirupattur, will soon get a bitumen stretch as NABARD and Rural Roads (RR) wing of the State Highways Department have commenced work to lay a ring road to a distance of 10.05 kms, covering at least 8-10 villages.

Officials of State Highways, which will execute the work, said that the existing Yelagiri Hills Main Road is the only key stretch available for tribals in the hills since its formation way back in 1962. Residents in interior tribal hamlets have to trek several kilometres on mud pathways to reach Yelagiri Hills Main Road to board buses to the plains. “The entire work will be completed by March 2026,” E. Murali, Divisional Engineer (DE), State Highways (Tirupattur) told The Hindu.

Minister for Public Works and Highways E.V. Velu laid the foundation stone for the work in the presence of Collector K. Sivasoundaravalli. “The new stretch will help us transport farm produce like corn, millets and groundnuts to local markets in Jolarpettai and Tirupattur town in the plains. It will also help ambulances reach remote hamlets in the hills,” said V. Sudalai, a tribal.

At present, residents in remote hamlets in the hills trek at least 15 kms to reach Yelagiri village for bus services. They have to travel at least 30 kms down the hill by road for essential facilities like Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), government high school, markets, banks, ATMs and government offices in the plains.

Highways’ officials said that as per plan, the new stretch will be laid to connect key tribal hamlets like Athanavur, Nilavur, Gottur, Ethathangal, Pallakanniyur, Keezhaparai, Padanur and Thaiyalur in the hills. It will also help at least 25 surrounding hamlets to get connected to Yelagiri village.

Funded under the District Roads Improvement Scheme 2024-25, the new two-lane stretch will be laid at a cost of ₹17.10 crore. It will be 15 feet wide with paved shoulders to provide stability to the bitumen carriageway. At least 35 minor bridges and culverts will be constructed on the stretch to discharge excess rainwater from the hills and to prevent waterlogging.

Each minor bridge, on an average, will be 30 ft wide and seven ft in height. The new stretch will also have LED street lights, storm water drains, reflectors and signages. Retaining wall to a height of 15 ft will be built to ensure the safety of motorists on the route. Once completed, the stretch will also get bus services operated by TNSTC, highways officials said.