Tender floated for Trichy’s maiden elevated corridor

Trichy: The state highways department (construction and maintenance) has floated a tender for preparing a detailed project report (DPR) comprising cost estimate, design, sub-soil investigation and pedestrian subways for the maiden elevated corridor in the city linking Anna statue roundabout near Cauvery bridge with Trichy railway junction. Authorities eye minimal land acquisition for the project to avoid legal issues in the identified stretch.

The tender valued at Rs 2.56 crore will identify a suitable agency to explore opportunities available on the 6.4-km elevated corridor from Anna statue in Melachinthamani till Railway junction via West Boulevard, Palakkarai and Melapudur. Highways officials said that the elevated corridor will have two lanes and viabilities will be explored to have multiple ramps (arms) at five locations. Considering the traffic needs, ramps are planned at Chathiram bus stand, Gandhi market, Marakkadai, Head Post Office and Railway junction. Two pedestrian subways may come up at the Chathiram bus stand and Main Guard Gate. “The agency to be identified will survey the land, vehicular traffic and shall conduct a soil test. They will submit a design plan, which will be modified if required,” a senior official with the state highways said.

As there are an RoB and subway in the stretch, officials said that at such places, the elevated corridor will either be merged or designed to bypass the existing structures. Single pillars will be erected on the existing roads. “Since the available land is very less, there is no chance for a four-lane elevated corridor. We will make the project viable by ensuring limited land acquisition,” the official said. The agency will submit three alternative alignments to execute the elevated corridor for decongesting the city. Once the design is finalised by the alignment committee, funds required for the project will be sanctioned. The construction may take one year to commence, officials said. Further, two more tenders are expected to be released for the elevated corridors on Karur Road and Bharathidasan Road.