NHAI reopens Sengipatti underpass post repair

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced the completion of significant repair work on a damaged vehicular underpass (VuP) near Sengipatti on the Trichy-Thanjavur national highway and stated that it had reopened for all types of vehicular movement. It was noted that the underpass, situated at the intersection of Trichy-Thanjavur NH and Budalur-Gandarvakottai state highway, had been closed since June 20, 2023, following the collapse of a reinforced earthen wall of the structure adjacent to the Thanjavur-Trichy service. Subsequently, vehicles had been redirected through service roads, and repair work had been initiated by the NHAI Thanjavur unit based on technical guidance provided by a retired professor from IIT-Delhi and faculties of NIT-Trichy. NHAI stated that soil nailing, a remedial civil work involving steel reinforcements, had been carried out at 650 spots of the underpass. Steel rods, each measuring 32 mm in diameter, had been inserted into the underpass to stabilize the structure. The authority had allocated Rs 20.5 million for fortifying the underpass, which was originally constructed in 2009. There had been some delay in floating the tender and identifying a suitable contractor to initiate full-fledged repair work. Instead of focusing solely on repairing the affected area, they had opted to strengthen the entire 1-km underpass to ensure commuter safety. Damaged concrete panels that had been installed on the reinforced earthen wall to protect the core structure from atmospheric impact were also replaced. The reopening of the underpass was welcomed by regular commuters on the NH, which serves as a vital link connecting the delta districts with Trichy.