For the construction of a bridge in the Ukkadam area of Coimbatore, seven high voltage towers were removed, and ₹7.5 crores worth of underground power cable is being built.
Coimbatore: On the National Highway between Coimbatore and Pollachi, in order to solve the traffic congestion in the area between Ukkadam and Athupalam within the city, the construction of the flyover is underway. A flyover covering a distance of 1.46 km has been constructed from Ukkadam Karumbukkadai at a cost of Rs.233 crores.
As part of the second phase, it has been decided that the bridge would be extended from Karumbukkadai to Athupaalam and work is underway at a cost of Rs.265.44 crore.
As part of the first phase, a landing platform will be constructed at the Perur by-pass and a climbing platform will be constructed at the Ukkadam bus stand bus exit on Valankulam by-pass road. The shopping complex at the Kerala bus stand will be demolished.
Similarly, from Periyakulam to the substation on Valankulam Road, only if the high voltage towers are relocated, can the bridge be fully built.
A formal application was made to the Electricity Board to expedite these tasks. But there was a delay, and due to that, under the supervision of the Electricity Board, this work is being carried out by the State Highways Department.
Already, for the construction of this bridge, all the power poles and transformers in the middle of the road and on the sides of the road have been removed and converted into burial power cables.
Subsequently, the high voltage towers will also be removed. Seven high voltage towers from Periyakulam bank to the substation were removed and work to install the underground power cable is in full swing. The first 'tower' at the junction of the road along the Periyakulam bank will be relocated to the Periyakulam bank from the road. Apart from that, seven towers will be removed soon.
A total of ₹9.80 crore rupees has been allocated for these tasks. As part of the plan, for removing the high voltage towers and setting up the underground power cable, seven and a half crore rupees has been allocated.
Six high voltage wires, covering an area of 630 square meters, for a total of 600 square meters will be built in the same configuration as the 'duct'. For this purpose, pits were dug on Valankulam road and the work of laying the burial power cable is in full swing.
Highways authorities said that the work would be completed in two more months.