more-in Despite strengthening of the Cauvery Left Bank Road by the State Highways Department last year, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) continues to operate its direct services between Srirangam and Kumbakonam through the circuitous Lalgudi-Anbil-Thirukattupalli-Thiruvaiyaru route. The TNSTC (Kumbakonam) operates two services daily to and fro Srirangam and Kumbakonam along the route. It is popular among pilgrims, who wish to avoid travelling in their own vehicles due to traffic congestion along the Tiruchi-Thanjavur route to Kumbakonam. But it entails an additional 20 km journey. While travel from Tiruchi to Thanjavur is smooth along the four-lane carriageway, the journey from there to Kumbakonam turns tough due to narrow roads. The widening and strengthening of the Left Bank Road to a stretch of 12.5 km from Chennai Bypass Road till Grand Anicut was carried out at a cost of ?39.50 crore under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme. The road was widened to 10.5 metres from 5.5 metres, and retaining walls were constructed at points where the embankment was low, for easier and quicker movement of city bues operated between Chathiram Bus Stand and Kallanai. A new bridge is coming up at a cost of ?67 crore across the Coleroon near the Grand Anicut connecting Kilikoodu along Thiruvanaikovil road with Koviladi in Thanjavur district. The one-km-long bridge supported by 24 spans will have a breadth of 12.90 metres with provision of 10.50 metres for carriageway. Though a direct service along the route will provide quicker access to Kumbakonam from Srirangam, TNSTC is not able to avail the utility of the widened road since passenger traffic will not match up to the existing level, official sources said.

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