Though the Highways Department has completed construction of a road overbridge in Lalgudi about a year ago, the bridge is yet to be put to use as a traffic island, an important allied work, could not be built due to delay in land acquisition.
The traffic island is planned to be established at the Tiruchi-Kumulur-Ariyalur tri-junction near the bus stand in Lalgudi. Being a vital but narrow area, this junction is prone to traffic snarls. Heavy vehicles, particularly lorries transporting raw materials to cement factories in Ariyalur, besides mofussil and town buses bound for Tiruchi, Pullampadi, Anandhimedu, Anbil, Perambalur and Jayamkondam add to the traffic snarls at this junction.
According to official sources, the Highways Department planned to set up the traffic island with a diameter of 15 metres to ensure proper regulation of traffic. “But there has been a delay in land acquisition, mostly space occupied by shops and a commercial complex,” the source said.
Further, the contractor who built the road overbridge, said pilferage of construction materials was a major problem at the site.
“We have completed the work on the bridge and also the service road on either side,” he said. The acquisition process should be completed at one go and not piecemeal, he said.
Bus crew said the width of the road right below the bridge was quite narrow and it was difficult to manoeuvre their vehicles there.
Further, the closure of railway gate after the construction of the bridge is causing inconvenience to the residents, particularly students and patients. While students cross the railway track to reach the school located under the road overbridge, patients and pregnant women bear the brunt as they have to take a detour to reach private hospitals.
