Geotechnical investigations under way in River Cauvery for construction of a high-level bridge between Ottanur and Kottaiyur

Geotechnical investigations for high-level bridge between Ottanur and Kottaiyur in River Cauvery underway, promising economic and travel benefits.

The State Highways Department has begun geotechnical investigations (GTI) in River Cauvery for the construction of a high-level bridge between Ottanur in Dharmapuri district and Kottaiyur in Salem district. The GTI will be completed in the next two weeks.

For over 75 years, people residing near the banks of River Cauvery in Pannavadi, Kottaiyur, and Chettipatti in Salem district and Nagamarai, Ottanur, and Yemanur in Dharmapuri district, have been demanding the construction of a high-level bridge across the river. These areas are situated in the tail-end of Stanley Reservoir in Mettur. The people in these areas use boats and coracles to reach both sides by travelling two to five km in water. Hundreds of students from these areas in Dharmapuri district are studying in schools and colleges in Salem district, and the use boat or coracle service to reach Salem district. By road, the residents have to travel 70 km to reach Mettur from Ottanur and Nagamarai. Through the river, they reach both sides in 20 to 30 minutes. During flooding and rainy days, it becomes difficult for people to cross the river.

In 2015-16, the State government conducted a study to construct a high-level bridge. But it dropped the project following poor feasibility for execution. Various political parties demanded construction of bridge and during the 2021 Assembly elections, DMK promised to construct the bridge. In the 2022 Assembly session, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that a high-level bridge would be constructed between Ottanur and Kottaiyur at a rough estimation of ₹250 crore and sanctioned ₹2 crore for the project study.

The geotechnical investigations for the bridge began on April 11, 2025 and the officials attached to the State Highways Department said the exercise will end in the next two weeks. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be completed before the end of June, and submitted to the State Government in July. The estimate for this 2.4 km-long high-level bridge would be around ₹600 crore to ₹700 crore. The government is keen to complete the project in three years. This project will be fully funded by the State government, the officials added.

Explaining the benefit of this high-level bridge, the officials said that if the bridge gets constructed, the distance for vehicles heading to Bengaluru from Mysore will be reduced by 80 km. A sum of ₹1,200 crore per year will be saved on vehicle operating costs. The Ottanur-Kottaiyur will be turned into a tourist destination in the next 10 years and it will boost the local economy and the GDP of Salem district.

To reduce the construction period and cost, studies on alternate plans are going on and advanced techniques will be adopted in the construction of the bridge, Highway department officials added.