Palayamkottai - Thoothukudi road finally revamped
11 Aug 2023
2 Min Read
CW Team
The four-lane highway was observed to be filled with cracks and potholes, leading to accidents on an almost daily basis, particularly after dusk. It was noted that this road was utilised by a multitude of vehicles, which included heavy transports carrying imported logs and 40-ft-long containers originating from VOC Port in Thoothukudi. These vehicles travelled towards districts such as Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, as well as the neighbouring state of Kerala. Remarkably, despite being a highly frequented route, this road had not undergone any re-laying procedures since the inauguration of the four-lane highway for traffic, a period spanning 15 years.
For a proper understanding of the deplorable and hazardous state of this highway, a comparison was drawn with the meticulously laid Kanniyakumari � Tirunelveli stretch. M Rajan, a cab driver hailing from Tirunelveli, commented, "This road is in a worse condition than a majority of rural roads, yet the National Highways Authority of India continues to collect toll fees."
At the Vagaikulam toll plaza, which consisted of merely three lanes on each side, two designated for Fastag usage and one for cash payments, a perpetual crowd was observed. This occurrence contradicted the very intention behind introducing the Fastag system. Often, the vehicle registration numbers could not be read by the scanners, resulting in the attendants having to step out of their booths armed with handheld scanners. This practice led to a congestion of vehicles, with impatient drivers sounding their horns in frustration.
An immensely damaged bridge spanning the Tamirabharani river at Vallanadu remained unrepaired, despite an expenditure of more than Rs 150 million on repair attempts. The issue was escalated due to repeated complaints and legal action in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. Subsequently, the NHAI allocated Rs 210 million for the repair of a bridge that had been initially constructed for Rs 250 million merely a decade ago.
Also read:
NTPC, SJVN, Hinduja Win RUMSL's Phase II Solar Auction
BluPine and ACME Winners in RUVNL's 1.2 GW Solar
The four-lane highway was observed to be filled with cracks and potholes, leading to accidents on an almost daily basis, particularly after dusk. It was noted that this road was utilised by a multitude of vehicles, which included heavy transports carrying imported logs and 40-ft-long containers originating from VOC Port in Thoothukudi. These vehicles travelled towards districts such as Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, as well as the neighbouring state of Kerala. Remarkably, despite being a highly frequented route, this road had not undergone any re-laying procedures since the inauguration of the four-lane highway for traffic, a period spanning 15 years.
For a proper understanding of the deplorable and hazardous state of this highway, a comparison was drawn with the meticulously laid Kanniyakumari � Tirunelveli stretch. M Rajan, a cab driver hailing from Tirunelveli, commented, This road is in a worse condition than a majority of rural roads, yet the National Highways Authority of India continues to collect toll fees.
At the Vagaikulam toll plaza, which consisted of merely three lanes on each side, two designated for Fastag usage and one for cash payments, a perpetual crowd was observed. This occurrence contradicted the very intention behind introducing the Fastag system. Often, the vehicle registration numbers could not be read by the scanners, resulting in the attendants having to step out of their booths armed with handheld scanners. This practice led to a congestion of vehicles, with impatient drivers sounding their horns in frustration.
An immensely damaged bridge spanning the Tamirabharani river at Vallanadu remained unrepaired, despite an expenditure of more than Rs 150 million on repair attempts. The issue was escalated due to repeated complaints and legal action in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. Subsequently, the NHAI allocated Rs 210 million for the repair of a bridge that had been initially constructed for Rs 250 million merely a decade ago.
Also read:
NTPC, SJVN, Hinduja Win RUMSL's Phase II Solar AuctionBluPine and ACME Winners in RUVNL's 1.2 GW Solar
Next Story
Morpho Dimensions Set to Cross Rs 1 billion Revenue in FY 25�26
Morpho Dimensions, a venture of acclaimed architecture and design firm Morphogenesis, is transforming India’s office interiors landscape with a technology-first, design-led approach. With a secured orderbook of Rs 700 million and additional projects in the pipeline, the firm is confidently on track to cross Rs 1 billion in revenue in FY 2025�26. By combining Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Virtual Reality (VR), Morpho Dimensions enables clients to visualise and step into immersive, ready-to-operate workspaces within 90 days—ushering in a new bench..
Next Story
TOTO’s NEOREST Surpasses 4 Million Global Shipments
TOTO has announced that its flagship smart toilet, NEOREST, has surpassed 4 million global shipments as of March 2025, marking a major milestone in the evolution of luxury sanitation and setting a new global benchmark in design-led hygiene innovation. Launched in 1993 with the aim to redefine conventional toilets, NEOREST has consistently merged cutting-edge technology with minimalist design. Over three decades, it has become a category-defining product, earning global acclaim with prestigious honours including the iF Design Award, Red Dot, and Green Good Design Awards. The integrate..
Next Story
Gurgaon’s SPR Set to Cross Rs 1 Lakh Crore in Realty Sales
Gurgaon’s Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) is rapidly evolving into one of India’s most dynamic real estate and infrastructure zones. Once a mere connector between Sohna Road and Golf Course Extension Road, SPR has transformed into a premium urban corridor, with over Rs 1 lakh crore worth of residential and commercial projects launched or in the pipeline. In the last two years alone, developers have launched or announced projects worth Rs 500 billion along SPR—a figure projected to double by 2027, cementing its position among India’s most active micro-markets. Property rates along S..