Work on service road commences at Lalgudi.

Delay in land acquisition has come as yet another bottleneck in the way of constructing the bridge in Lalgudi.

Highways Department officials have initiated their schedule for providing service road utilising the available space belonging to the Highways Department.

'We have demolished the platforms of a row of shops where the drain will be built,' say the sources. Here again, the platform leading to automated teller machine had been spared to facilitate customers access the ATM unit.

Authorities said that expeditious acquisition of land running to several hectares particularly in Siruthaiyur area would go a long way in early execution of the work. 'Although the revenue authorities have acquired the lands at L. Abhishekapuram area, the proceedings needed to be in fast phase for the Siruthaiyur village,' say the sources.

The bridge is 450 metres long and the service road should be provided on either side to a length of about 800 metres. 'We hope the land acquisition process will be completed without losing time as the by-election to the Srirangam Assembly constituency delayed the proceedings to some extent,' an official source said. At present, the Highways Department officials focus on providing concrete structure on the bridge. The Southern Railways had completed its component by setting up five girders above the level-crossing portion.


THE HINDU