When the witnesses of the Palalar River said excess rainwater during the monsoon, the new bridge was built at 1.35 feet higher than the maximum flood that occurred in the river in the last 100 years to avoid flooding of the road and damage its structure. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
On Thursday, a new bridge was opened at a high level across the river Palalar in the village of Pachakupam near the town of Ambur in Tirupatura, with residents bringing a relief of at least 20 surrounding villages.
Officials of state motorways who built the facility said the new bridge was built between the villages of Panchakuppam and Azhuchikupam, which fall under Madhanur Panchayat Union in the Tirupatur district. The new bridge is replaced by the existing Causeway of the 1970s, which was damaged during the 2021 flood. “The new bridge is built at a height of 15 feet from the bed of the river to prevent the inundation even during massive floods. Using the bridge, people can safely exceed the river during the monsoon,” said Kr Rajathi, AEE.
The Minister of Public Work and the EV Velu Motorway launched the bridge in the presence of collector K. Sivasanaravalli and Vellore MP DM Kathira Ananda. The new bridge will end a detour of at least 15 km to achieve large cities such as Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Jolarpet and Vellore by the surrounding villages. “During the monsoon, we had to carry sick people in the chest of deep water in the river to achieve government hospitals in Ambur. Now the ambulances can get to the necessary using a new bridge,” resident S. Bakkiyam.
The Minister of Public Work and the EV Velu Motorway launched the bridge in the presence of collector K. Sivasanaravalli and Vellore MP DM Kathira Ananda. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Funded by NABARD within the Fund for the Development of Rural Infrastructure (RIDF) -158 for 2022-23 is a two-lane bridge long and 12 meters wide-up for two buses to be used simultaneously. Approximately two Lakh residents, including farmers and traders along the river, will benefit because they can achieve other places much faster. School students can go to the nearest schools across the river.
When the witnesses of the Palalar River said excess rainwater during the monsoon, the new bridge was built at 1.35 feet higher than the maximum flood that occurred in the river in the last 100 years to avoid flooding of the road and damage its structure. The new device can release around 50,000 cusec with water per second. It has tiled sidewalks, LED lights, inputs to drain rain water into the river, reflectors, signing plates and hand railing.
The new bridge is a rescue rope for a rescue rope for 20 surraounding villages, including Melpati, Nariyambattur, Rajakkal, Alinjikkal, Kothakuppam, Vasanthapuram, MV Kuppam, Reddimangukuppam and Sankarapuram.
Published – 11 September 2025 20:30
