GENERAL WING

Chief Engineer (H), General wing is in-charge of all State Government roads improvements and maintenance. This wing undertakes improvements to various categories of roads viz. State Highways Roads, Major District Roads and Other District Roads under the following schemes:

In the years from 1997 - 98 to 2001 - 2002, 20,442 Km of various categories of roads have been taken up improvement under various schemes. The remaining 41,823 Km of roads are yet to be covered. It is estimated that the sum of Rs. 1300.00 crores may be required to improve the entire uncovered stretches of various categories of roads. Under the ongoing programme of improvement of Other District Roads, during the year 2001 - 2002, it was proposed to improve 5409.96 Km at a cost of Rs. 250.60 crores. Likewise, 564.361 Km length of SH and MDRs are proposed to be improved at a cost of Rs 54.39 crores, for which proposals are under the consideration of Government.

NABARD has been assisting the State Government to take up improvement of Other District Roads till 1999 - 2000. Thereafter they are assisting for construction of bridges and development of rural roads only. The Government of Tamil Nadu has taken up with Managing Director / NABARD to include improvements of ODRs also for availing loan assistance from NABARD.

During 1996 - 1997, due to the floods in December - 96, Government have sanctioned a sum of Rs. 150.00 crores for permanent restoration of damaged Government roads in 8 costal districts. These works were taken up and completed using Central Mixing Plants, Paver and Machineries so as to ensure quality packed, durable roads. The roads laid using the above technique, have received  public appreciation and hence it was proposed  to extend this mechanized construction method in a phased manner to other districts also.

Accordingly, a sum of Rs.100.00 crores was allotted during 1999 - 2000 for mechanized construction. Under this 1847.21 Km State Highways and Major District Roads were taken up and completed. During this year, proposal for Rs.154.89 crores has been formulated covering a length of 1189 km of State Highways and Major District Roads.

The Government of India through  an Act of Parliament, have setup a Central Road Fund with the accruals from the special road cess levied on Petrol and Diesel. From this fund around 15 % is distributed to the states.

For the year 2000 - 2001 the GOI have allocated Rs. 67.03 crores for Tamil Nadu.

The Government of India have accorded administrative approval for Rs. 149.50 crores for 254 works under CRF scheme for the year 2000 - 2001 in three categories viz. Widening and Strengthening, Improvements to riding quality / Periodically Renewal and Improvements to Accident Prone Spots on State Highways and Major District Roads.

Further, a proposal for reconstruction of collapsed bridge across Vettar river at Km 186/6 - 8 of NH 45 A extension ( Pondy - Nagapattinam Section) has also been approved by Government of India.

BRIDGES

Besides having good surfaced roads, to ensure fast flow of traffic, bridges at obstructions due to water courses, one road crossing another road and railway level crossings are essential.

To achieve such a good network, construction of bridges have been taken up in large numbers in the recent past.

New construction and reconstruction of distressed bridges according to necessity are taken up by this wing under the following schemes:

1. Part - II scheme

2. ROB / RUB Scheme

3. Deposit Works

During the previous years 117 Number of Bridge works were taken up by this wing, out of which 105 bridges have been completed (as on date) and balance 12 number of bridges are in progress. A sum of Rs. 7.70 crores is required to complete these bridges.

Many Bridges built during pre-independence period are not suitable to cope up with the intensity of traffic now prevailing and the load coming from multi-axled vehicles. They are designed as single lane bridges. Further, most of the bridges have completed their designed life. Of  late a few such bridges have started collapsing in succession. Hence reconstructing these bridges in a phased manner is essential. It has been found out that the Arch bridges in Cauvery Delta districts are prone to such collapse. A survey has been undertaken to identify such weak and distressed bridges which are likely to collapse. After conducting a detailed survey ,  a proposal for constructing 204 bridges at an estimated  cost of Rs. 232.65 crores. Of which 94 bridges with 34 approach roads at a cost of Rs 70.2435 have been takenup with loan assistance from NABARD.   These  bridge works are under various stages  of implementation.  Out of remaining 110 bridges  62  bridges on State Highways roads  at a cost of Rs.116.13  crores are proposed to be taken up with loan assistance from HUDCO.  Likewise the 48 bridges on MDRS at a cost of Rs.46.28 crores are proposed to be taken up with loan assistance from NABARD.    As regards construction of new High Level bridges involving huge expenses, they will be examined for taking up under BOT scheme.

The plan works involve widening and stregthening of roads, construction / reconstruction of bridges, rehabilitation of distressed bridges every year under part - II schemes according to the approval of State and Union Planning Commissions. Under NABARD loan assistance scheme, connectivity to villages to the nearest main roads and improvement of Other District Roads for conveyance of agriculture products to marketing centers / Taluk head quarters are taken-up. Similarly, improvement of Sugar Cane Road works are carried out from Sugar Cane Cess Fund. Further, construction / reconstruction of bridges and improvements of Radial Roads to urban Road Safety Programmes, funds are provided jointly by State Government and Railways for the construction of ROBs / RUBs to replace the existing level crossings.

The routine maintenance activity involves maintenance of culverts, patch repairs, crack sealing, road side drainage, repairing of earthen shoulders, painting of highway signs and km stones, arboriculture and turfing, road marking, maintenance of gang huts and store sheds, removal of litter, debris and dead animals and replacement of damaged retro-reflective signs etc. Further, additional maintenance activity involves maintenance of medians, foot path repairs, minor repairs to bridges, sub - ways and flyovers and removal of encroachments in urban areas and maintenance of retaining / breastwalls, removal of slips in hill areas. In addition to this, minor repairs to bridges and ROBs / RUBs in rural and remote areas are also to be attended under additional maintenance. The routine maintenance cost includes cost of materials such as bitumen, road metals, gravel, paints etc. The routine  maintenance activities are done through department personnel only.