MP meets Union min, urges start of work on VuPs

Trichy: Durai Vaiko, MP, on Friday met minister of state for road transport and highways (MoRTH) Harsh Malhotra in New Delhi and demanded start of construction work for two new vehicular underpasses (VuPs) on the Trichy-Chennai NH. Stating that detailed project reports for the VuPs at Sanjeevi Nagar junction and Kollidam Y road junction in Srirangam were already submitted to the regional officer, NHAI, the MP urged the ministry to facilitate approvals for them to eliminate fatal accidents on the highway."Residents of nearby habitations, pedestrians, and daily commuters continue to face grave risk while crossing the highway. They persistently demand early commencement of works for the two VuPs," the MP said in the letter submitted to the minister. He cited the death of a 50-year-old special sub inspector (SSI) of Trichy city police at Sanjeev Nagar junction in Jan in this regard.Durai Vaiko said that cost estimates for the proposed VuPs were already prepared by an independent engineer and a road safety consultant, and the latest update indicates the bidding process for execution of the works is yet to be finalised. "It is now more than two months since this update," the MP said. Locals fear the launch of the projects may be delayed once the election model code kicks in. The MP also urged the minister to expedite administrative work to construct an elevated rotary at G Corner junction on the Trichy-Chennai NH to prevent accidents.