Main arm of Goripalayam bridge to be ready by February 10: Highways Minister

Construction of the main arm of Goripalayam bridge connecting Tamukkam junction with Anna statue in Nelpettai would be completed by February 10, said Minister for Highways E.V. Velu.

After inspecting the bridge work, along with Commercial Taxes Minister, P. Moorthi, here on Sunday, Mr. Velu said the ₹190-crore project should have been completed by now.

However, due to legal tussle the work was delayed by six months.

“We have instructed the officials to complete work of the main arm of 2,100 metres, including bridge across Vaigai river, by February 10. The Chief Minister would inaugurate it subsequently,” he said.

However, the work of Sellur arm would take three more months for completion, the Minister said.

New flyover at Viraghanoor junction

On frequent traffic congestion reported on Inner Ring Road at Viraghanoor junction, Mr. Velu said that the Highways Department was in the process of preparing a detailed project report for constructing a flyover there.

The Minister also said that the department would consider constructing another flyover at Chintamani junction to prevent vehicles waiting on the toll road for signal.

To a question on possibility of handing over the Inner Ring Road to NHAI for facilitating construction of an underpass to enable runway extension for Madurai Airport, Mr. Velu said that Tamil Nadu State Highways Authority had been created exclusively to take up such major road infrastructure works.

It would also take up green field road works.

Highways Secretary R. Selvaraj, Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, MLAs G. Thalapathy and M. Boominathan were present.