New high-level bridge across Cheyyar river in Tiruvannamalai opened

Minister for Public Works and Highways E.V. Velu inaugurated a new bridge across Cheyyar near Kalasapakkam in Tiruvannamalai on Friday. Tiruvannamalai Collector K. Tharpagaraj is also seen.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A new high-level bridge across Cheyyar, a tributary of Then Pennai, on Chengam – Polur High Road at Keel Thamaraipakkam village near Kalasapakkam in Tiruvannamalai was opened on Friday, ending a long-standing demand of residents in at least 20 surrounding villages.

Officials of State Highways, which built the new facility, said that the new bridge has been built between Keel Thamaraipakkam and Then Mahadeva Mangalam villages. Currently, similar bridges across the river are available at Kalasapakkam and Kanchi villages. Residents have to travel to these bridges to reach big towns like Polur, Arani, Chengam and Tiruvannamalai.

The new bridge will end long travel to the nearest bridge available for surrounding villages. “During monsoon, farming villages will get cut-off from the rest of the district due to increased volume of water flow in the river. The new bridge will ensure us ambulances on time and introduce bus services to villages along the river,” said G. Sevanthi, a resident.

Minister for Public Works and Highways E.V. Velu inaugurated the bridge in the presence of Deputy Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, K. Pitchandi, and Collector K. Tharpagaraj.

Funded by NABARD under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) -28 scheme for 2022-23, the Rs 115.05 crore-bridge is 182.80 metres long and 12 metres wide — enough for two buses to use it at a time. “Around one lakh residents including farmers and traders along the river will be benefitted by the new bridge as they can reach other places much faster. School students can pedal their way to the nearest schools across the river,”T. Murugan, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Rural Roads), Tiruvannamalai, told The Hindu.

As Cheyyar and Then Pennai rivers witness flow of excess rainwater during monsoon, the new bridge has been built at a height of 4.93 metres from riverbed to prevent inundation of carriageway and damage to its structure. The new facility can discharge around 50,000 cusecs of water per second. It has tiled footpaths, LED lights, inlets to discharge rainwater into the river, reflectors, sign boards and hand railings.

The new bridge is a lifeline for at least 20 surrounding villages including Naidumangalam, Thenmathimangalam, Nayambadi, Arunagirimangalam, Kovilmathimangalam, Kodikuppam and Sholavaram. Prior to the new bridge, residents have to carry sick persons across waist-deep water in the river during summer to Primary Health care Centre (PHC) in Kalasapakkam. As there was no bus service to these villages due to lack of bridge earlier, commuters including students and office goers have to travel long distances to nearest bus stops.

Highways officials said that 272.50 metres-long approach roads has been laid between the new bridge and Chengam — Polur High Road to enable motorists for better connectivity to nearby towns.