The central government has approved the detailed project report (DPR) submitted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the construction of an elevated corridor with an underpass at the Thuvariman-Melakkal junction in Madurai. The project, which aims to reduce accidents at a notorious black spot on the Dindigul-Kanyakumari Highway, will be carried out at a cost of Rs 460.06 million.
The Thuvariman-Melakkal junction has long been a concern for local residents due to the high risk of accidents, particularly at night. Uma Shankar, a resident of Thuvariman, mentioned that the junction experiences at least one or two accidents each month and also urged for another bridge at Samayanallur, which faces similar risks.
Madurai MP Su Venkatesan expressed his gratitude to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, for approving the project. In a tweet, Venkatesan acknowledged the government's support and noted that he had raised the urgent need for the project during discussions with Gadkari in October 2023. Although the project had experienced delays due to land acquisition issues, the NHAI has since addressed these concerns.
A senior NHAI official confirmed that the tender for the project would be issued soon. The elevated corridor will extend approximately 700 meters and will include an underpass near the junction, located about 15 km from the Kappalur toll plaza. The project will also feature a service road and will be executed under the toll-operate-transfer (TOT) model.
