Centre okays elevated corridor at Thuvariman-Melakkal Jn

Madurai: The central government has approved the detailed project report (DPR) submitted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for constructing an elevated corridor with an underpass at the Thuvariman-Melakkal junction in Madurai. The project, aimed at reducing accidents at one of the most notorious black spots on the Dindigul-Kanyakumari Highway, will be executed at a cost of ` 46.06 crore.
The Thuvariman-Melakkal junction has been a longstanding concern for local residents due to the high risk of accidents, particularly at night. “The junction sees at least one or two accidents every month. We also demand another bridge at Samayanallur, which faces similar risks,” said Uma Shankar, a resident of Thuvariman.
Madurai MP Su Venkatesan expressed gratitude to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, for approving the project. In a tweet, MP 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. The project had faced delays due to land acquisition issues, but the NHAI has since resolved them.
Speaking to TOI, Venkatesan said, “The bridge was delayed earlier due to land acquisition issues, and the minister had assured me that the work would be sanctioned. Now that the land has been acquired, the project can move forward. Another black spot in the same stretch at Samayanallur is outside my constituency, but I hope it will also be addressed, given the risks involved.”
A senior NHAI official confirmed that the tender for the project will be called soon. The elevated corridor will span 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.