NHAI to rope in new contractor to resume work on ₹22-crore vehicular underpass near Arcot town

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to rope in a contractor to resume ₹22-crore vehicular underpass being built on Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH48) in Puttuthakku village near Arcot town in Ranipet district.

This comes after the multi-crore project was abandoned by an earlier contractor due to lack of funds. Due to this, the police had allowed traffic on the incomplete elevated corridor above the underpass to decongest the narrow service lane leading to Vellore Town. “Due to delay, traffic on the service lane turned chaotic during rush hour and on weekends. The NHAI should complete the underpass at the soonest,” a senior police officer told The Hindu.

Motorists said the dust from the incomplete elevated corridor affected visibility and put them at risk, especially during night-time. As the blockade preventing entry into the incomplete underpass was removed, motorists suddenly enter the service lane from the incomplete underpass. “Vehicles should be barred from entering the underpass until the work is completed,” said K. Manjunath, a motorist.

NHAI officials said the previous private contractor had abandoned the work due to financial reasons. As a result, work was stalled for the past few months. Northeast monsoon rain also damaged the service lane, putting motorists to risk.

The officials said over 90% of the underpass had been completed. The remaining work included laying the bitumen layer on the carriageway of the elevated corridor and installation of safety features such as blinkers, reflectors, and signage. Once the new contractor is tasked with the job, the underpass and its elevated portions will be completed in a month, they added.

As per plan, the new underpass will accommodate two-wheelers, cars, and buses. Such an arrangement will help reduce the total number of the existing U-turn spots on the stretch to prevent accidents.

The stretch has a few government schools, primary healthcare centres, and car service centres. The new campus of the Christian Medical College (CMC) is also located near the spot the underpass is being built. Every day, the hospital gets nearly one lakh visitors on an average, including those from its main campus in Vellore. At present, people have to walk at least 500 metres to the nearest pedestrian crossing at Puttuthakku junction.