Work to construct a two-lane bridge across the Arani river at Karani in Tiruvallur district is nearing completion. The ₹20-crore bridge will help residents of Karani and Pudupalayam cross the river without having to take a detour of 8km to reach Periyapalayam Road during monsoon and when the river is in spate.

Gummidipoondi MLA T.J. Govindarajan said that a causeway built on the riverbed decades ago was being used by the residents to reach the nearest main road and access schools, hospitals and shops. But every monsoon, with the causeway getting submerged, they would either have to take the circuitous route or brave the waters. “There have been many instances of people and animals dying in the swirling waters,” he said.

The bridge would be of help to residents of Pudupalayam, Erukuvai, Kandigai, Manali, Nelva, Mangalam, Anjamedu, and Sankaraapuram, said R. Revanth, a resident.

“Our hospital is at Periyapalayam and school at Arani. There is another route via Paleswaram but there is a bridge that gets flooded if water from the Nelvoy lake is released. If that happens, we would have to travel all the way to Thandalam and Uthukottai to reach Periyapalayam,” he said.

Many residents in the area are involved in farming activities and grow vegetables and fruits. They find it difficult to move their produce to the nearby markets.

Sources in the Highways Department said that the bridge has seven spans and seven slabs and is 175 metres long. “We are aiming at completing it soon and definitely before the monsoon. It has been a long-pending demand of the residents in the area,” the official added.