Minister Velu lays foundation for Rs 103 Crore Jamunamarathur amirthi road project

Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports E.V. Velu on Thursday laid the foundation stone for a Rs. 103 crore project to widen the 39-km single-lane road from Jamunamarathur in Tiruvannamalai district to Amirthi in Vellore district into a two-lane highway, bringing fresh hope to residents of the Jawadhu Hills.
The project will upgrade the vital hill road to a 5.5-metre-wide two-lane stretch, improving connectivity for several villages in the region.
As part of the works, 222 small bridges will be constructed along with 2,810 metres of retaining walls and 3,421 metres of side drains.
Modern corbel bearing technology will be adopted to enhance safety in sharp curves, and 20,000 saplings will be planted and maintained along the roadside.
The foundation ceremony was held near the Jamunamarathur Tourist House. Tiruvannamalai Member of Parliament C.N. Annadurai, Kalasapakkam MLA P.S.T. Saravanan, District Revenue Officer I. Rampradeepan and senior officials participated.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Velu said the long-pending demand of the hill residents was being fulfilled, adding that the widened road would boost economic growth, facilitate marketing of agricultural produce and ensure quicker access to emergency medical services.
On the occasion, the Tribal Welfare Department launched the Ainthinai Tribal Agriculture Development Project and distributed farm equipment, including two tractors, a rotary plough, a multi-crop thresher and a battery sprayer, to the Tribal Farmers’ Association in Kanamalai Panchayat to support mechanised farming in the hills.