District Panchayat Council proposes flyovers in Kumbakonam, Papanasam

The District Panchayat Council said that construction of bridges at Kumbakonam and Papanasam on the Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai single line section of the Southern Railway will be of great help to the movement of vehicles passing through the two cities.

Passing the decisions at the General Council Meeting here on Friday, the Council said that traffic on the level crossing (LC 270) in Maaththi on the southern border of Kumbakonam Corporation limits, accumulates about one kilometer on both sides of the railway line. as and when the LC gates are lowered to allow trains to pass.

A similar situation prevailed in Papanasam where the traffic jam on Papanasam-Saliamangalam Road occurred when the level crossing gate (LC 285), near Papanasam Railway Station, was closed for train traffic.

Therefore, the council suggested that overhead bridges be built on LC 270 and LC 285 to help road users continue their journey without interruption. In addition, a bridge over the Maaththi crossing, near the Mahamagam Tank in Kumbakonam, will ensure smooth traffic during the Mahamagam festival in 2028, the resolution added.

However, several members of the railway passengers’ association and social activists do not believe that these projects are possible since the two crossings are on carriage roads that are not wide enough to be a bridge of more than two lanes. These two areas are known for their abundance of commercial buildings, they pointed out.