TN-Chief Minister’s constituency Road NH 67 unattended by NHAI.

Abandoned road of NH 67 near Kothamangalam bye-pass

Mishaps are happening frequently between Trichy and Pettavaithalai on the Karur-Tiruchi section of National Highway 67, which is a picture of neglect despite the state of affairs being brought to the notice of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) authorities. Utter disregard for the public safety and apathy to the public needs mark the maintenance of Tiruchi-Karur NH 67 in several areas of Trichy and Pettavaithalai.The development works on the Trichy-Karur section of National Highway 67 has come to stand still between Perugamani and Trichy for more than one year. This state of affairs is the root cause for the several accidents happening and it is painful situation for the public and commuters of the road.Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu visited this part of her constituency by road, still there is no improvement in road works on the part of NHAI. With just 75 per cent of the job after almost four years, public expect the technical, legal, and administrative sections to take efforts to finish the project by NHAI. It is understood that the 80-km Tiruchi-Karur section of NH 67 is being developed at a cost of Rs. 516 crore.The stretch takes off near Panjappur in Tiruchi district and runs via Jeeyapuram to end at Sukkaliyur in Karur district where it joins the NH 7. The National Highways Authority of India has granted the concessionaire Reliance Infra under the Build Operate Transfer mode, a concession period of 30 years, including two-and-a-half years construction period that ended long time back. Work has been held up across the Kothamangalam; Kallikudi and Punganur irrigation tanks in Tiruchi district for the best reasons known to NHAI.The commuters and public strongly feel that speedy completion of works by NHAI through Reliance Infra will ensure that they have a safe journey. “We are disappointed that the NHAI has been reluctant to meet the essential safety and security need of the public and road users. Any ruse to avert maintaining the road stretch by them only affects the public,'' said Chinnadurai, resident in Sirugamani Town Panchayat, who lost his son in this road accident recently. K.Devendran, a farmer of Pettavaithalai opined that NHAI should approach and request for help of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu for solving the alleged problem of the bye-pass road connection across the Kothamangalam; Kallikudi and Punganur irrigation tanks from Trichy”. -Govin