The Public Works and Highways Minister also laid the foundation stone for the new ring road at Yelagri Hills in Tirupattur at a cost of ₹17.10 crore on Saturday. Collector of Tirupattur K. SivasoundDaraValli is also entered. | Photo credit: special arrangement
The remote tribal villages of Yelagiri Hills, which form part of Jawadhu Hills near Jolarpet town in Tirupattur, will soon get a bitumen stretch as the NABARD and Rural Roads (RR) wing of the state highways department has started work to lay a 10.05 km ring road covering at least 8-10 villages.
State Highways officials, who will carry out the work, said the existing Yelagiri Hills Main Road is the only key stretch accessible to the hill tribes since its inception in 1962. Residents of the interior tribal villages have to walk several kilometers on muddy tracks to reach the Yelagiri Hills Main Road to board buses on the plains. “The entire work will be completed by March 2026,” E. Murali, Divisional Engineer (DE), State Highways (Tirupattur), told The Hindu.
Public Works and Roads Minister EV Velu laid the foundation stone of the work in the presence of Collector K. Sivasoundaravalli. “The new stretch will help us transport agricultural produce like maize, millet and groundnut to local markets in Jolarpettai and Tirupattur in the plains. It will also help ambulances reach remote villages in the hills,” said V. Sudalai, tribal.
Currently, residents in remote hill villages trek at least 15 km to Yelagiri village for bus services. They have to travel at least 30 km downhill by road for essential facilities like Primary Health Center (PHC), Government High School, Markets, Banks, ATMs and Government offices in the plains.
Highways officials said that as per the plan, the new stretch will be laid to connect key tribal villages like Athanavur, Nilavur, Gottur, Ethathangal, Pallakanniyur, Keezhaparai, Padanur and Thaiyalur in the hills. It will also help at least 25 nearby hamlets to connect with Yelagiri village.
Funded under the District Road Improvement Scheme 2024-25, the new two-lane stretch will be laid at a cost of ₹ 17.10 crore. It will be 15 feet wide with paved shoulders to ensure the stability of the bitumen roadway. At least 35 smaller bridges and culverts will be built on the section to divert excess rainwater from the hills and prevent waterlogging.
Each smaller bridge will average 30 feet wide and seven feet high. The new section will also have LED street lighting, rainwater drains, floodlights and signage. A retaining wall up to 15 feet high will be built to ensure the safety of motorists along the route. After completion, the section will also use bus service operated by TNSTC, highways officials said.
Published – 30 Nov 2025 05:00 IST
