Three major projects that were set to be completed by the highways department in Kanchipuram district have been stalled for a decade due to a lack of funds. The Uttaramerur bypass project remains in the planning stage as land acquisition cannot be completed without government allocation of funds. Despite fast-paced economic and population growth, infrastructure development has not kept pace, impacting the surrounding community. In particular, a bridge near Walajabad is frequently damaged during heavy rains, causing traffic problems for local residents. Villagers are calling for a flyover to be built but the needed ₹100 crore has not been allocated. Another project, the Kariangate railway crossing flyover, has also been delayed as permission has not been granted. Similarly, the Uttaramerur bypass project has not progressed due to inaccurate estimates of the amount of funds required for land acquisition. Although ₹26 crore was provided by the Tamil Nadu government last year, an additional ₹21 crore is needed to complete this phase of the project. Officials from the Highways Department are waiting for railway administration approval to proceed with the flyover project and for funding to be granted for both the Walajabad bridge project and the Uttaramerur bypass.
Kanchipuram district is developing very fast in all aspects like economy, increase of vehicles, population. But in the case of infrastructure, many government projects are stalled, making it difficult to take the next step towards development.
Also, the surrounding people are also affected. In this way, due to the lack of coordination from the government to implement various important projects of the highway department, the project works have been left in abeyance.
In particular, the three highway sector projects have not been implemented. Out of which, two projects are yet to start.
In Kanchipuram district, due to heavy rains in the month of November 2021, there was a severe flood in Palar. The land bridge near Walajabad was completely damaged and motorists could not use it.
Villagers demand
Around 15 villagers had to travel several kilometers around the village. Motorists are now using it after temporary repairs.
Every year, the bridge gets damaged and the traffic is blocked due to floods in the river.
Therefore, the villagers around Wallajabad have been continuously demanding the construction of a flyover for the 1.5 km stretch between Wallajabad and Alur.
Due to this, the highway department has sent a proposal to the government saying that 100 crore rupees are required for the construction of the flyover.
However, the allocation of funds for them has not been provided yet. The villagers are waiting for when the bridge will be built.
As for the second project, on the road from Kanchipuram to Arakkonam, at the railway crossing in the Kariangate area, there is a situation where vehicles have to wait for a long time every day during the train service.
As this problem has been going on for years, motorists have been suffering. On June 11, 2018, it was announced that a flyover would be constructed at Kariangate. Following that, on September 28, a decree was issued regarding the construction of the flyover.
42.51 lakh rupees have been allocated for the detailed project report for the construction of the flyover and a straight line map has been prepared for the construction of the railway flyover at Kariangate. It was sent by Chengalpattu divisional authorities of Highways Department for permission of Railway Department in November 2019. Permission has not been granted yet.
Next step
As for the third project, 10 years after the announcement of the Uttara Merur bypass project, the land acquisition work itself is still incomplete, much to the annoyance of the people of Uttara Merur area.
The Uttaramerur bypass project was announced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2013. For the first phase of this, a fund allocation of 7 crore rupees has been made.
Bypass to Uttaramerur, on Uttaramerur- Pukkathura Road, A.P. It was planned to start near Satram and travel 4.2 km through Mallikapuram farmlands to join Vedapalayam road to Durham.
There is a constant complaint that the amount required for land acquisition for the project has not been properly calculated.
Last year, an additional requirement of Rs 26 crore was calculated. The Tamil Nadu government provided that amount in October last year. At present, 26 crore rupees are not enough and it is calculated that 21 crore rupees are required.
Thus, the question has arisen among the residents of Uttarmerur whether the bypass project will be completed as the land acquisition work itself is not going well.
A senior official of the Highways Department Planning Division said:
Highway files are ready for Kariangate railway flyover near Kanchipuram. No information received from the railway administration. Regarding the map of the flyover, further action can be taken only if they send it.
Similarly, an additional Rs 21 crore is required for the Uttaramerur bypass. We are looking forward to that funding.
This is what he said.