Advertisement
The Gulf conflict has disrupted global supply chains, pushed...
REITs have changed the way commercial real estate is owned a...
What does it take to preserve a real estate legacy while bui...
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
The 3.5-km four-lane Achampathu-Virattipathu bypass on NH-85 has reached 94% completion, with the remaining work being expedited and the road expected to open later this year. The INR 239 crore project, whose cost was subsequently revised to INR 260 crore, will bypass the existing road through Virattipathu and Achampathu and improve movement towards Usilampatti, Andipatti, Theni and Bodinayakanur. The project is also expected to support the movement of agricultural produce, including vegetables, fruits and spices, while reducing inter-district traffic through the Achampathu corridor.
Work on the Achampathu-Virattipathu bypass in Madurai has reached 94%, bringing the four-lane road closer to opening for traffic between Madurai, Theni and Kerala. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has expedited the remaining work and expects the bypass to be opened later this year.
The greenfield bypass covers 3.5 km of NH-85. It was initially approved at INR 239 crore, while the project cost was later revised to INR 260 crore. The alignment starts near Virattipathu, beyond the Kochadai grade separator, and connects with NH-85 near Nagamalai Pudukottai. It will bypass the existing stretch through Virattipathu and Achampathu.
The new road is expected to help vehicles travelling towards Usilampatti, Andipatti, Theni and Bodinayakanur avoid the bottleneck on Theni Main Road, particularly around the Power Kadai and Elite Master Mahal junctions. The existing stretch can add around 15 to 20 minutes to travel during peak hours, according to local commuters.
The bypass is also expected to take through traffic away from residential areas, where buses, trucks and other vehicles currently share the road with local traffic, pedestrians and school-going children. This could reduce traffic conflicts along the existing route and improve movement through the settlements.
For regional trade, the road is expected to ease the movement of vegetables, fruits and spices from Tamil Nadu towards destinations including Cumbum, Kumily and Munnar. It will also remove a portion of inter-district traffic from the Achampathu corridor.
The project followed around 15 years of representations from residents and tourists seeking an alternative route. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone through video conference in March 2024. Progress was subsequently affected by delays in land acquisition. An inter-department meeting held about six months ago helped revive the process and allowed the remaining work to move ahead.
Land acquisition involved around 10 acres across the Erkudi, Sambakudi and Vilacheri revenue villages, with earlier reports putting the acquisition component at about INR 96 crore. Residents had also sought safeguards where the bypass alignment approaches the Kiruthumal and Madakulam water channels
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
