New traffic arrangements in Katpadi from April 1 to facilitate bridge repair work

The district administration has requested the Southern Railway and the NHAI to complete the repair work in a month’s time

Collector P. Kumaravel Pandian has announced a series of new traffic arrangements as work for strengthening of the Rail Over Bridge (ROB) near the railway station in Katpadi on the Mangalore - Villupuram Road, maintained by the NHAI, begins from April 1 (Friday). The work is being taken up jointly by the Southern Railway and NHAI.   The new traffic changes are based on the road safety meeting that was organised by the district administration a few days ago. Accordingly, all buses that go from Vellore town to Chittoor have to go via the temporary bus terminus near the slaughter house in the Old Town, VIT (Katpadi), E.B. Road and Sekkadu to reach Chittoor. Likewise, buses from Chittoor have to come via Sekkadu, E.B. Road, VIT (Katpadi) and the Old Town.   Buses from Gudiyatham should go to Latteri, Katpadi Kutt Road, Christianpet and Dell to reach the Old Town in Vellore. Residents from areas around Dell in the Old Town can go to Gudiyatham via Christianpet, Katapdi Kutt Road and Latteri. Likewise, a portion of buses will be diverted to go between Gudiyatham and Arcot (Ranipet) via Latteri, Katpadi Kutt Road and Christianpet, whereas, remaining traffic, mainly buses from Gudiyatham will have to go via Chittoor Bus Stand, VIT (Katpadi), E.B. Road, Tiruvalam and Arcot. Buses from the Old Town in Vellore to Arakkonam should go via Old Bus Terminus (opposite to fort), VIT, E.B. Kutt Road, Sekkadu, Vallimalai, Sholingur and Tiruttani. Motorists including two-wheelers, auto rickshaws and other light vehicles from Christianpet to Chittoor Bus Stand (Katpadi) should go via Vallimalai Kutt Road, Kamarajapuram, railway underpass and Old Katpadi Road. Vehicles including two-wheelers, cars and auto rickshaws from Christianpet, Karasamangalam and Latteri to Old Town in Vellore can go via Jabrapettai, Kalinjur and Viruthampattu.   Vehicles, mainly goods-laden lorries from southern State via Tiruvannamalai should go via Polur, Arani, Arcot, Ranipet, Sekkadu to reach Chittoor. Vehicles that come from Krishnagiri should go via Pallikonda and Gudiyatham to reach Chittoor.     Vehicles from Chittoor that have got permits from the Vellore RTO will be allowed to enter Tamil Nadu via Serkadu, E.B. Kutt Road and VIT. Vehicles from Chittoor proceeding to Krishnagiri should go via Gudiyatham and Pallikonda, the release said.   The district administration has requested the Southern Railway and the NHAI to complete the entire repair work of the bridge in a month’s time, officials said.