Coimbatore: The state highways department has decided to lay an alternative route to Ooty via Pillur dam at an estimated cost of 520 crore. This includes the cost of land acquisition too. This new route will be an alternative when the two existing routes are blocked due to land slides or other maintenance works.
The department has prepared a detailed project report and is awaiting clearance from the forest department. "We have received the manual clearance but were told to apply for the sam online," said a highways official. This new road will be laid for a distance of 94km, starting from Karamadai, and it would be 7m wide.
"The forest department has asked a few questions and we will respond in a couple of days. Subsequently, the DPR will be sent to the government," said a senior engineer of the state highways department.
This route, that would cross thick forests, will serve as an alternative whenever the other routes are closed due to calamities or maintenance works. "Ecotourism at Baralikadu will also get a boost because of this new route," said a forest official.
The land acquisition involves 30 hectares of forest land and 78 hectares of private land. "The forest land will be compensated by releasing twice the amount of land. The revenue department has already finalized the alternate land.
The state government has passed an order for 34 hectares of forest land and the other 26 hectares will also be sanctioned," said an official. These lands are situated in Kemmarampalayam and Tholampalayam village panchayat.
Currently, 3.8km of road from Velliangadu to Ansur checkpost is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO). In addition, 19.4km of road is under the state highways department. For over two years, the officials have been looking for alternative routes to Ooty from Coimbatore.
"Two other routes from Nellithurai-Pillur-Kundah and Pillur - Manaru - Kolakombai were studied. But since the sharp incline and gradient were not found to be safe for travel, these routes were dropped," said an official.
But environmentalists in the city remain apprehensive about the project. "This area is more prone to hairpin bends and it's a steep climb. The area is at risk of man-animal conflict as some of the roads will be laid in grassy areas. There is no purpose in developing the hills. An impact study should be undertaken before the project is carried out," said K Mohanraj, an environmentalist.
The department has prepared a detailed project report and is awaiting clearance from the forest department. "We have received the manual clearance but were told to apply for the sam online," said a highways official. This new road will be laid for a distance of 94km, starting from Karamadai, and it would be 7m wide.
"The forest department has asked a few questions and we will respond in a couple of days. Subsequently, the DPR will be sent to the government," said a senior engineer of the state highways department.
This route, that would cross thick forests, will serve as an alternative whenever the other routes are closed due to calamities or maintenance works. "Ecotourism at Baralikadu will also get a boost because of this new route," said a forest official.
The land acquisition involves 30 hectares of forest land and 78 hectares of private land. "The forest land will be compensated by releasing twice the amount of land. The revenue department has already finalized the alternate land.
The state government has passed an order for 34 hectares of forest land and the other 26 hectares will also be sanctioned," said an official. These lands are situated in Kemmarampalayam and Tholampalayam village panchayat.
Currently, 3.8km of road from Velliangadu to Ansur checkpost is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO). In addition, 19.4km of road is under the state highways department. For over two years, the officials have been looking for alternative routes to Ooty from Coimbatore.
"Two other routes from Nellithurai-Pillur-Kundah and Pillur - Manaru - Kolakombai were studied. But since the sharp incline and gradient were not found to be safe for travel, these routes were dropped," said an official.
But environmentalists in the city remain apprehensive about the project. "This area is more prone to hairpin bends and it's a steep climb. The area is at risk of man-animal conflict as some of the roads will be laid in grassy areas. There is no purpose in developing the hills. An impact study should be undertaken before the project is carried out," said K Mohanraj, an environmentalist.