Work begins on new bridge near Kalpakkam.

Work to construct a four-lane bridge near Kalpakkam on the East Coast Road to Puducherry has begun. This will replace a 44-year-old, 55.5-m-long bridge that was damaged in the 2015 floods at Illaiyanarkuppam across the backwaters.

The old three-span bridge was constructed in 1974 with pre-cast square piles and in the torrential rain during the 2015 monsoon, one of the piers sank. As an immediate measure, traffic was diverted through Kalpakkam town and a causeway was constructed. Traffic was allowed from March 2016.

The construction would be completed in 18 months and cost ₹23.78 crore. The State had sanctioned ₹22 lakh for preparing a detailed report for the project and also granted sanction for the construction.

Since it is a four-lane bridge, it would be wider than the damaged one and would allow additional traffic.

“As the damage was at the foundation, instead of retrofitting it, construction of a new bridge was decided and this time, the foundation would be deeper so that it can withstand tidal action and water force,” explained an official in the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company that manages the toll road.

Meanwhile, under the Bharatmala Programme, the National Highways Authority of India is preparing draft feasibility reports for widening the 50-km stretch from Chennai to Mamallapuram and the 106-km stretch from that point to Puducherry, which has been named as NH 332A.

THE HINDU