Danushkodi, the abandoned pilgrim town in the south-eastern tip of Tamil Nadu has got the much-awaited road link, more than five decades after it was devastated by the 1964 cyclonic storm and awaited formal inauguration.
With the Bay of Bengal on the one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, Danushkodi became a desolate stretch after a cyclonic storm almost wiped out the land strip and devastated the rail link on the night of December 22, 1964.
Yet, for the pilgrims and tourists who flocked the strip, their pilgrimage would not be complete without a visit to the land, which was considered ‘Aathi sethu’ (arrow head) and they would not mind taking the rough ride in the sandy and marshy terrain in jeeps and vans.
Four years ago, the National Highways mooted the idea of providing a road link to the ‘ghost town’ but the Union Finance Ministry questioned the need for the road link after five decades. A query then followed, on whether there was any guarantee that the road would not be washed away.
The National Highways, however, obtained the road design, using ‘Gabion boxes’ technology from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras to protect the road from tidal action. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways gave its nod with a grant of Rs. 15 crores during 2012-13 for the first stretch up to Danushkodi.
“After overcoming many hurdles, we have completed the 9.5 km road link at the total cost of about Rs. 66 crore and the two stretches from Muhuntharayar Chathiram to Danushkodi [5 km] and Danushkodi to Arichalmunai [4.5 km], the eastern tip is ready for use,” official sources said.
All the physical work - road furniture, milestones, sign boards, road markings and reflectors have been completed. There were bus bays on the two stretches and rotary at the end at Arichalmunai for vehicles to turn around, the sources said.
No toll
The model code for the local body elections came in the way of the inauguration of the road and it had now been lifted, raising expectations among pilgrims and tourists. Now the entire stretch is ready, the road could be thrown open for the pilgrims and tourists who still take the risky and rickety ride, they said. As the cost was less than Rs. 100 crore, there would be no toll.
With the Bay of Bengal on the one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, Danushkodi became a desolate stretch after a cyclonic storm almost wiped out the land strip and devastated the rail link on the night of December 22, 1964.
Yet, for the pilgrims and tourists who flocked the strip, their pilgrimage would not be complete without a visit to the land, which was considered ‘Aathi sethu’ (arrow head) and they would not mind taking the rough ride in the sandy and marshy terrain in jeeps and vans.
Four years ago, the National Highways mooted the idea of providing a road link to the ‘ghost town’ but the Union Finance Ministry questioned the need for the road link after five decades. A query then followed, on whether there was any guarantee that the road would not be washed away.
The National Highways, however, obtained the road design, using ‘Gabion boxes’ technology from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras to protect the road from tidal action. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways gave its nod with a grant of Rs. 15 crores during 2012-13 for the first stretch up to Danushkodi.
“After overcoming many hurdles, we have completed the 9.5 km road link at the total cost of about Rs. 66 crore and the two stretches from Muhuntharayar Chathiram to Danushkodi [5 km] and Danushkodi to Arichalmunai [4.5 km], the eastern tip is ready for use,” official sources said.
All the physical work - road furniture, milestones, sign boards, road markings and reflectors have been completed. There were bus bays on the two stretches and rotary at the end at Arichalmunai for vehicles to turn around, the sources said.
No toll
The model code for the local body elections came in the way of the inauguration of the road and it had now been lifted, raising expectations among pilgrims and tourists. Now the entire stretch is ready, the road could be thrown open for the pilgrims and tourists who still take the risky and rickety ride, they said. As the cost was less than Rs. 100 crore, there would be no toll.