Latest news with #ChiefMinisterRoadDevelopmentProject
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Key stretch near Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai to be widened
The State Highways will soon widen the existing narrow Tiruvannamalai Road near Arunachaleswara temple in the town to provide more road space especially for ambulances, government buses and school vans on the route. Officials of State Highways said that the narrow stretch is a key route to connect surrounding villages with the town. It also provides a short route for long distance travellers and pilgrims to reach the town, especially the 14-km-long Girivalam Path and the temple. 'The stretch near the road over bridge, will be widened to provide more road space for motorists and pedestrians. Adequate land on both sides of the bridge will be acquired for the purpose,' S. Anbarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Tiruvannamalai), told The Hindu. Widening work will be funded under the Chief Minister Road Development Project (CMRDP). The stretch will be widened from the existing seven metres to 10.5 metres to utilize the unused road space and will acquire private land. The work will be done in coordination with Tiruvannamalai Corporation, police and Tangedco as key water pipelines from Sathanur dam for domestic consumption within the civic body passes through the stretch. 'During rush hour, school vehicles, government buses and office goers find it difficult to navigate the narrow carriageway, resulting in traffic congestion. The widening of the stretch is a welcome measure,' said P. Bhaskan, secretary, Tiruvannamalai All Traders' Association. As part of land acquisition for the work, Collector K. Tharpagaraj chaired a meeting with stakeholders including officials from Revenue Department, State Highways, Corporation, police to fasten the process and compensate affected families on the route. Highway officials said that 1.90 of land should be acquired on both sides of the stretch to widen it. Except for a few government buildings like the market committee building, most of the land is owned by private individuals. As per plan, the stretch will be widened to a distance of 425 metres especially below the bridge to allow vehicles to navigate easily within the town. The existing narrow storm water drain on both sides of the stretch will be widened to discharge excess rainwater and prevent inundation of the town during monsoon. Each drain will be three feet wide and four feet deep. Tiled footpaths will be laid on the widened drain to allow pedestrians to use the space rather than walking on the carriageway. Also, separate space, which measures 50 cm wide, between the drain and carriageway is being laid with pavement blocks for utility works including electrical lines and internet cables. It will prevent unnecessary road cutting works to attend to any fault in these lines on the stretch. The entire work will start in the coming months.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- The Hindu
Re-laying of roads with concrete on Mada Streets to be completed by July
The final phase of work to convert the potholed Mada Streets around Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai into concrete stretches will be completed by July. Officials of the State Highways, which executes the ₹15-crore work, said that laying concrete on the roads, including the Theradi Veethi and Thiruvoodal street, will provide a much-needed relief to devotees. 'The new concrete stretches will provide safe walking spaces for pilgrims. Road digging will be minimal as separate ducts are being laid for utility cables,' S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu. Forming a part of the 14-km-long girivalam path, 1.7 km-long Mada Streets witness 20,000 visitors on an average every day. During weekends and holidays, the footfall doubles in the temple town. These stretches connect the temple with the rest of the town. As part of celebrations during the Karthigai Deepam festival, the temple car is pulled through these stretches. Funded under the Chief Minister Road Development Project (CMRDP) 2024-25, the streets are being widened from the existing seven metres to 12 metres to utilise the unused road space. The work has been done in coordination with the civic body, police and Tangedco. The existing narrow storm water drain on the stretches is being widened to discharge excess rainwater and prevent inundation during the monsoon. Each drain is three feet wide and four feet deep. Tiled footpaths will be laid over the widened drain for pedestrians who otherwise has to walk on the carriageway. Also, a separate space of 50-cm width, between the drain and the carriageway is being laid with pavement blocks for utility works such as electrical lines and internet cables. This will prevent unnecessary road cutting to attend to any fault in these lines. Officials said that the reason behind the re-laying of the streets into concrete stretches was for its long lifespan as concrete roads can stay undamaged for at least two decades as against three years for bitumen roads. Earlier, the Mada streets were re-laid with bitumen every year during the festival.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Encroachments around Arunachaleshwara temple in Tiruvannamalai demolished to facilitate drain work
Encroachments, mostly houses and petty shops, were demolished around Arunachaleshwara temple in Tiruvannamalai town, to facilitate construction of storm water drain on key stretches around the temple on Friday. The massive exercise was being taken up with the help of officials of State Highways, the executing agency, along with officials of Tiruvannamalai Corporation and revenue department besides the local police personnel. Most of the encroachments, around 160 structures, on these stretches had been built over two decades ago. The razed structures are mostly extensions of houses and commercial establishments that have been built on the existing narrow drain on these stretches. 'Illegal construction on these stretches, especially around the temple, has affected traffic movement, especially ambulances. The demolition exercise is also part of efforts to create more road space for visitors during Chitra Pournami festival, to be held on May 11 and 12. The drive will continue for the next few days,' S. Anbarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Tiruvannamalai), told The Hindu. Officials said that the demolition drive was also meant to restore the original width of the existing stretches around the temple as most of the encroachments were built on it. The encroachments, mostly concrete structures, blocked free flow of excess rainwater on old narrow drains during monsoon. It has resulted in waterlogging in the town. Officials of the State Highways said that construction of new wide storm water drains on both sides of key stretches is part of the Rs 15-crore concrete road works on these routes. Some of the stretches include Kattabomman Street, Draupathi Amman Street, Ramalingam Road and Rajagopuram Road. Each drain is three feet wide and four feet deep. The new drain is being laid after revenue officials marked the extension of encroached space on these stretches that have to be demolished for drain work. Of total 800 metres of encroached space, demolition have been completed to a distance of around 250 metres on these stretches so far. Formed part of the 14-km-long girivalam path, the stretches around the temple, a distance of 1.7 kms, gets around 20,000 footfalls every day. The stretches connect the temple with the rest of the town. During Karthigai Deepam festival, the temple car is pulled on these stretches as part of the celebrations. The work is being done under the Chief Minister Road Development Project (CMRDP) 2024-25. As part of ensuring safety of pilgrims during car pulling events as part of Karthigai Deepam festival, all overhead cables including Tangedco power lines and internet are being replaced with underground cables as part of the new drain work. Around 120 electrical poles on these stretches have been removed. Also, new water pipelines are also being done on both sides of the stretches to prevent road cutting works for household water connections.
