Govt trying to resolve land acquisition problems for Vellore ring road project

The project has been pending for quite a few years and is important to reduce congestion specially during peak hours. The Green Circle junction near the new bus stand faces severe traffic snarl during the peak hours when vehicles from Katpadi road bound for Chennai and those from the collectorate are bound for Ambur.

According to Kathir, the road would start near Sethuvalai on the Vellore-Bengaluru national highway and connect Serkadu on the Chittoor- Chennai road preventing vehicles approaching Katpadi and Gandhinagar areas from coming via the Green Circle. Those bound for Bengaluru from Gandhinagar and Katpadi can use the ring road avoiding passing through Vellore town, the MP added.

“The ring road, extending for 30 odd kilometres, will cost around Rs 350 crore. When this is completed, a new bridge across the Chennai-Bengaluru railway tracks will handle increased traffic into Katpadi,” Kathir said.

“Land for the project has already been earmarked and the state government — which will undertake the project — is ironing out a few glitches because of the Land Acquisition Act to ensure bringing the project to fruition as early as possible” he added.

Referring to the present Katpadi bridge near Katpadi railway station, he said “The repair work under way worth Rs 2 crore will be completed in three months as the railways are using carbon fibre technology to strengthen the pillars supporting the 17-year-old bridge.” Potholes on this bridge were filled with quarry dust by the traffic police on the orders of Vellore SP Pravesh Kumar as vehicles were forced to a crawl when crossing the bridge thereby creating traffic jams near the Katpadi railway station entrance 100 metres away.