Karanodai bridge thrown open to public

By T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI, MAY 14. The much-awaited new Karanodai bridge on NH-5 has been thrown open to the public.

Though scheduled for completion in January, the construction of the new two-lane bridge was completed only recently and it was commissioned on May 6.

Established under the BOT (build, operate and transfer) mode, this scheme is among a few projects in the road sector that are executed with the private sector participation. Built at a cost of Rs. 26 crores, the bridge across Kortalaiyar in Karanodai (about 30 km north of the city) on the crucial NH connecting Chennai with Kolkata is a tolled facility.

For nearly 10 years, the promoter will be allowed to maintain the facility and levy toll.

As per the State Government's policy, the toll will not be charged for two-wheelers and slow-moving vehicles such as bi- cycles. The rates per vehicle per trip approved for other categories of users are Rs. eight for cars/jeeps/vans, Rs. 15 for light commercial vehicles, Rs. 30 for trucks/buses and Rs. 40 for multi-axle vehicles.

The need for a new bridge arose as the existing 125-year-old bridge became disfunctional in November 1993 when its three spans were washed away by heavy flows in the river. Immediately after the incident, a Bailey bridge was put up and it was in use for about five years.

In October 1998, a tripartite agreement was signed by the Central and State Governments and the private promoter concerned. It envisaged the re-construction of three spans of the existing bridge and the formation of a diversion road. While the diversion road was the first to be completed, the authorities are still at work on the old bridge and this is likely to be over by the end of this month.

The Karanodai bridge across Kortalaiyar on NH-5.

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