NHAI opens under-construction bridges on Chennai – Bengaluru Highway in Ranipet

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Tuesday has opened two under-construction bridges on Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) in Ranipet to ease traffic flow on the route after the service lane got damaged due to rain.

Officials of NHAI, which maintains the stretch, said that the under-construction bridges near SSS College Of Arts, Science and Management in Arcot town and at new campus of Christian Medical College (CMC) in Puttuthakku village near Melvisharam town in Ranipet were opened for vehicular movement after the service lane towards Bengaluru was badly damaged due to continuous rain. “Opening of the under-construction bridges on the stretch is a welcome measure as the pot-holed service lane remains risky especially during night,” said J. Akash, a motorist.

Each elevated bridge, on an average, will cost ₹ 22 crore at Puttuthakku village and Arcot town. The elevated portion of the highway will have underpasses in these spots to allow residents to cross the stretch safely. The under-construction bridges are being built at accident-prone spots, also known as ‘black spots’.

These black spots are accident-prone spots that are based on reports given by the police to the district administration. As per plan, the new underpass below the two elevated portions of the stretch will be 4.5 metres high and 20 metres wide. Motorists said that the service lane, which is six metres wide, especially towards Bengaluru is pot-holed for more than a month. The badly damaged stretch has risked motorists including ambulances and school vehicles and pedestrians.

Additionally, excess rainwater from abandoned stone quarries in the area got discharged into residential areas and key stretches including the service lane. It has resulted in knee-deep waterlogging on the service lane of the stretch.

Based on directions by Collector J. U. Chandrakala, police requested NHAI to open the under-construction bridges on the stretch to ease traffic flow on the route and also to ensure safety of motorists.

Officials said that more than 80% of bridge work has been completed including the initial bitumen layer on the carriageway of the new bridges. Strengthening of the retaining wall of the bridge, final bitumen layer and installation of street lights on the bridge are remaining works. The entire work for two bridges will be completed by December.