Take fast lane to Thyagaraja's culture hub

Thanjavur: The major Cauvery delta town of Thanjavur will be linked by a fast lane to state capital Chennai, once the new four-way National highway NH 45C to the metropolis via Vikravandi is completed. 

The highway, which will reduce the time and distance of travelling to Chennai from Thanajvur and Kumbakonam considerably, was delayed due to problems in land acquisition. 

But now, the land acquisition, according to A. Annadurai, Thanjavur district collector,  has been completed in 10 out of a total of 18 villages in Thanjavur district for the project.  Land acquisition in other eight villages will be completed soon.  However, road-building work has started in the areas where land has already been acquired.

Embankment soil filling is going on from Karambai near Nagapattinam-Kumbakonam road junction at Thanjavur to Vadavar. After soil filling is completed, different stages of the road like granular sub-base, ‘wet mixed macadum (WMM)’, black topping and the like will be completed. 

Officials said that award of compensation for acquired lands has been announced and it is reasonably good. However, Pugazhendhi, a farmer, who has given five acres of his land said that the compensation to him was only 10 per cent more than market value. He said that he expected the amount to be enhanced.

Land acquisition has been completed at Bhjagavathapuram and Puttam villages in Thiruvidaimaruthur taluk, Kallapuliyur, Pandaravaadai, Mooppakoil, Asur, Kovilachery, and Melacauvery in Kumbakonam taluk, besides in Thiruppanandal West and Karambai. 

Further, land acquisition is to be completed in Senganur, Veerakkan, Manampadi, Vilanthakandam, Koranattukaruppur, Valayapettai and Baburajapuram. Revenue officials said that chief secretary is going to review the work on the national highway in Thanjavur district through video conferencing from Chennai on September 13.

People prefer national highway to travel as the drive is hassle-free, saves time and fuel. Now travelling to Chennai from Thanjavur via Kumbakonam is time consuming, tiresome with a single road with lot of turns and curves to negotiate. 

“We have been eagerly awaiting this road. It will be easy to reach Chennai for us,” said V. Satyanarayana of Kumbakonam. People from Mannargudi and Tiruvarur also said that the road will help them to reach Chennai comfortably, quickly.

The road will be completed in phases. The first stretch is from Vikravandi to Sethiyathoppu for a distance of 66-km in which 25 canal bridges, 27 road bridges, three railway road over-bridges and bypass roads at Panruti and Vadalur will be constructed. 

Second stretch will be from Sethiyathoppu to Cholapuram near Kumbakonam for a distance of 50.48-km, in which 34 canal bridges, 23 road bridges, by-pass at Sethiyathoppu, Thiruppanandal and Anaikarai will be constructed and the third stretch will be from Cholapuram to Thanjavur (Karambai) in which 62 canal bridges, 20 road bridges and by pass at Darasuram will be constructed. All the works are expected to be completed by 2020.