Minister launches project to build three new bypass roads in Tiruvannamalai

The State Highways Department has commenced work to lay three new bypass roads at Chengam, Thandrampattu and Kilsirupakkam in Tiruvannamalai district, covering a distance of 8.8 km. The roads will help heavy vehicles and long distance buses skip congested towns on the route.

Minister for Public Works and Highways E.V. Velu laid the foundation stone for the work in the presence of Collector K. Tharpagaraj, K. Murali, superintending engineer (SE), State Highways, and P. Gnanavelu, divisional engineer (DE), State Highways, a few days ago.

Officials of State Highways Department, which is executing the project at ₹90 crore, said the work will be undertaken by the Construction and Maintenance wing of the Department. Three new stretches will act as an alternative route for vehicles to reach key towns like Coimbatore, Salem, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Hosur, Bengaluru, and Vellore without using narrow stretches between Tindivanam and Tiruvannamalai. 

The stretches will also provide road connectivity to at least 45 surrounding farming villages like Alaputhur, Gengampattu, Nammiyandal, Chennasamudram, Gulalpadi, Kalladavi, and Melpadur. “The new bypass stretches will make existing village roads in Chengam, Arani, Thandrampattu and Tiruvannamalai safer for local motorists. It will decongest these towns from vehicular traffic, which is mainly due to the movement of heavy vehicles. The entire work will be completed by the end of 2026,” S. Ebenezar Anburaj, Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADE), State Highways (Thandrampattu), told The Hindu. 

At present, vehicles including goods laden lorries and trailer lorries have been passing through the congested Chengam, Thandrampattu, Kilpennathur and Tiruvannamalai towns to reach surrounding districts like Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem and Tirupattur. It has not only resulted in traffic congestion but also in accidents, where the majority of the victims are pedestrians.

Funded under Chief Minister Road Development Plan (CMRDP) 2025-26, the new bypass roads will be a four-lane stretch with at least 19.20 metres wide. Unlike in urban areas, the stretches will have only earthen storm water drains to avoid taking more road space.

A minor bridge across Alaiyar river, a tributary of Then Pennai river, will be built in Thandarampattu town as part of the new road work. The new bridge will be 30 metres in length and 7.5 metres wide.

Street lights, footpaths, reflectors, warning sign boards, pedestrian crossings also form a part of the multi-crore work. Once completed, the new stretches will help goods-laden vehicles, especially from southern districts, to quickly reach areas like Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Hosur.