Tiruvannamalai improves roads, storm-water drains for safety

Work is progressing to improve storm-water drains (SWDs) and lay concrete roads near the Arunachaleshwara temple in Tiruvannamalai. The project, costing ₹15 crore, aims to enhance drainage and widen the roads to 12 meters. Officials expect to finish the work in six months. The State Highways Department began rebuilding old SWDs after a recent incident damaged part of a house on Thiruvoodal Street during construction. Residents, especially seniors living near the temple, are concerned about any further damage. They emphasize the importance of careful work to protect their homes. Currently, about 230 meters of new drains, each three feet wide and four feet deep, are being installed in areas that lack proper drainage, such as Theradi Veethi and Thiruvoodal Street. Engineers are using concrete walls to safeguard existing structures during the project. This initiative is part of the Chief Minister Road Development Programme for 2024-25 and includes upgrading the previously damaged roads from 7 meters to 12 meters wide. The work is planned in coordination with local agencies, including the Corporation and police. Additionally, to maintain safety during the Karthigai Deepam festival, all overhead cables along the 1.7-kilometer road will be moved underground. About 120 electric poles have already been removed to facilitate this process, and new pipelines will be laid to avoid future road disruptions for water connections. Tiled footpaths will also be constructed alongside the expanded drain area.