Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today ordered to upgrade bridges and roads in Tamilnadu, as part of her continuing efforts to improve the infrastructure of the State.

According to an official release here, she has increased from Rs 6 crore to Rs 7.90 crore the share amount to be given to the Tamilnadu Electricity Board, to construct a two-way bridge across Cauvery river at Odapalli between Namakkal and Erode districts. She has also directed to widen the bridge from 4.5 meter to 7.5 meter.

Jayalalithaa has ordered to upgrade the 1.8 km long Javanbhavan-Kammiyampet Road in Cuddalore at a cost of Rs 1.30 crore.

The Chief Minister has also directed to upgrade the damaged causeway between Karur-Vangal Road and Nagapattinam-Koodalur-Mysore Road as flyover at a cost of Rs 12.50 crore.

'These initiatives will improve roads in the State, besides ensuring that the traffic flow is smooth and people can travel freely to wherever they want,' said the release.

It may be recalled that the Tamilnadu government led by Jayalalithaa recently finalised plans to construct bridges and subways at a total cost of Rs 231.68 crore to tackle traffic congestion in the suburbs of Chennai.

Three bridges and walkways will be constructed in the suburbs to the South of Chennai and to the North to ease traffic congestion at key junctions, according to an official press release.

These are: a bridge and pedestrian subway at a cost of Rs 80.74 crore at the junction of the GST Road (NH45), Pallavaram Market Road and Kundrathur Road; a bridge and an elevated walkway for Rs 98.22 crore, with the bridge linking Taramani Road to the Tambaram-Velachery Road and the Velachery bypass and the elevated walkway linking the Velachery Railway Station; and on the Inner Ring Road, near Kolathur ‘Retteri’ a bridge and a pedestrian subway will be constructed at cost Rs 52.72 crore at the junction of the Perambur-Redhills Road.

Also, the GST Road near the airport will be widened at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore, the release said.

Also, she allocated Rs 750 crore to carry out development works in urban areas. Out of the total Rs 750 crore, Rs 500 crore will be used for Corporations and Municipalities barring Chennai and Rs 250 crore will be used for Town Panchayats.