Launching of girders for construction of overbridge near Tiruchi Fort station gets under way

Construction of the overbridge above the railway line near the Tiruchi Fort station has entered the crucial stage with the Southern Railway Construction Organisation launching the massive work of placing the huge composite girders over the abutment structures. 

A total number of eight composite girders, each of which is about 30 metres long, were brought to the project site a couple of months ago.  Upon obtaining necessary clearance from the Southern Railway headquarters, the Southern Railway Construction Organisation on Thursday began the major task of placing the girders after obtaining line block and power block from the Tiruchi Railway Division to execute the task.  Each composite girder weighs about 28 tonnes.

The new overbridge is being constructed above the Tiruchi-Karur electrified broad gauge railway line after demolishing the over 150-year-old bridge in May 2025. Railway officials told The Hindu on Thursday that two heavy capacity cranes were deployed at the project site to lift the girders and place them over the two abutment structures one after the other. During the day-long operation, three girders were placed over the abutment structures. The remaining girders would be lifted and placed over the abutment structures in a couple of days.

The officials said line block and power block were given in different spells between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. due to train movements to lift and place the girders. The overbridge project is being executed jointly by the Southern Railway Construction Organisation and the Tiruchi Corporation at a cost of ₹44 crore on a 50:50 cost sharing basis. 

As per the agreement, the Tiruchi Corporation will build the retaining walls and approach roads from the Salai Road end and the Main Guard Gate. The portion of the new bridge above the railway line, after demolishing the age-old British-built bridge, is being constructed by the railways. The bridge was closed for vehicular traffic in late March 2024 to enable the construction of a new structure with all types of vehicles being diverted via Karur bypass and Thennur Road overbridge. The delay in the completion of the project for over two years now had posed severe hardships to motorists and been facing flak from the general public.

The officials said once the eight girders are placed the work of placing of deck sheet, reinforcement and deck slab concreting would be done. As part of the project, construction of trestle beams on the Woraiyur side of the bridge and another on the Main Guard Gate side have been completed by the railways. The deck slab concreting would be done before November. The officials said the railway portion work was expected to be completed by November 30.

Meanwhile, the Tiruchi Corporation sources said their portion of civil works, including construction of small bridges connecting the overbridge with the approach roads, provision of centre median on the approach road, black topping of the approach roads on either sides and other related works were expected to be fully completed either by December or latest by mid-January.