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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced plans to upgrade the narrow Trichy-Karaikudi National Highway (NH 336 & 536) in Pudukottai district. The project will involve preparing a detailed project report (DPR) to transform the existing two-lane, 81-km stretch into a more efficient four or six-lane highway, including bypasses to alleviate congestion in major towns and villages along the route.
Currently, NH 336 features four lanes within Trichy city, but narrows to just two lanes beyond the city limits. This bottleneck impacts crucial institutions such as Bharathidasan University, IIM Trichy, and Anna University. Additionally, the highway serves as a vital corridor for residents of Pudukottai traveling to Trichy and for tourists visiting significant temples, including Karpaga Vinayakar in Pillaiyarpatti and Ramanathaswamy in Rameswaram. The narrow roadway has resulted in extended travel times, leading to commuter frustrations.
The Lembalakudi toll plaza, designed to accommodate 9,271 passenger car units (PCUs) daily, recorded a staggering 14,042 PCUs by March 2017, exceeding its capacity by 50%. This surge in traffic has only intensified, particularly with the proximity of Trichy International Airport, which caters to passengers traveling to the Middle East and Southeast Asia from areas like Karaikudi, Sivaganga, and Pudukottai.
In recognition of these challenges, NHAIs Karaikudi project implementation unit (PIU) has issued a tender to appoint an agency for the DPR. "The highway has already reached the threshold for four lanes. Considering future needs, six lanes are also being considered. The DPR will finalize the plan," an NHAI official stated. The selected agency will have one year to submit the report, which will include plans for land acquisition and propose new bypasses for significant settlements along the route.
Project Details:
Length: 81 km
Current Width: 2 lanes
Proposed Expansion: 4 or 6 lanes
Route: From Trichy to Karaikudi
Major Towns Connected: Thirumayam, Kanadukathan, Karaikudi
Commissioned: March 2014
Design Capacity: 9,271 PCU per day
Traffic Handled: 14,042 PCU per day (2017). |
