Madurai’s first elevated corridor to be ready by January

The first elevated corridor for Madurai district, which is part of the four-lane highway connecting Madurai with Thuvarankurichi via Natham, is on track to be commissioned by January 2023. “The works are in an advanced stage and finishing touches are now being given,” said an official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The work under the Bharatmala Paroyojana Scheme began in November 2018 and was scheduled to be completed by November 2020, but got stretched by two more years following the Covid disruption and delay in shifting of service lines. The 7.3 km-long elevated corridor, said to be the longest in Tamil Nadu, stretches between IOC Junction in Chinna Chokkikulam and Chettikulam before returning to ground level. “This road (62 km) will reduce the distance between Madurai and Tiruchi by around 20 km,” the official said. Besides, it would be the feeder road to the second Ring Road, under construction, between Vadipatti and Thamaraipatti. “Thus, it would serve as a better link road for people from northern side of Madurai to reach destinations in southern western and northern districts,” he added. Of the three arms, the two exit arms on Ambedkar Road and Alagarkoil Road are almost complete, while work for entry arm on Gokhale Road along with construction of a major culvert on the same road is under way. See also: Rs 22 billion released for developing urban roadsBMC invites Rs 60.79 billion road concreting tenders