The Phase-I work for a new four-lane bypass Road between Ratchamangalam and S. Pallipattu village, a distance of 5.2 km, on Tirupattur - Singarapettai High Road (SH 18A) near Tirupattur town is nearing completion with black topping of the new stretch in progress.

Officials of State Highways Department, which maintains the stretch, said that formation of the bypass is aimed to provide an alternative route to reach key places like Dharmapuri, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, and Bargur at Damalerimuthur village faster. “The new Bypass Road will help decongest narrow stretches in Tirupattur town. It will also help prevent accidents. The new stretch will be opened in the coming use,” S. Venketaraman, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Construction and Maintenance), told The Hindu.

Accompanied by highway and revenue officials, Collector G. Ravikumar inspected the road. Highways officials said that the new bypass road will also help local motorists use Tirupattur - Singarapettai High Road to reach the Government Taluk Hospital, bus terminus, Collectorate, and SP offices in Tirupattur town.

The new stretch has been laid 3-4 km away from Singarapettai High Road to prevent heavy vehicles from entering Tirupattur town to reach other districts. At present, more than 14,000 vehicles enter Tirupattur town to go to Krishnagiri, Salem, and Chennai.

Currently, the narrow stretch witnesses traffic congestion and accidents due to continous inflow of vehicles. “The new stretch will help trucks and lorries reach Salem-Vaniyambadi Highway (NH 179A). The new bypass road will also reduce traffic in the town,” said K. Satish, a motorist.

Funded under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme (CRIDP) 2023-24, the ₹41.50-crore road work involves a 10-metre-wide carriageway, 1.2-metre-wide median, footpath, LED streetlights, and high mast lamps. 

As part of safety features, the new stretch will have road studs, reflectors, signages, blinkers, and CCTV cameras.

Highways officials, the new bypass road will be laid to a total distance of 14.35 km under two phases. The stretch will connect at least eight farming villages to reach Tirupattur town. It will also provide easy access to villages in Natrampalli, Jolarpet, and Tirupattur Panchayat Unions to reach key towns like Ambur, Vaniyambadi, and Vellore.