Trichy-Chennai Highway Blocked as Residents Protest Delay in Cauvery Bridge Repairs

June 27, 2026

Tiruchirappalli: Traffic movement on the Trichy-Chennai National Highway was disrupted on Saturday after residents staged a protest over the delay in repair and maintenance work on the old Cauvery bridge near Odathurai. Protesters accused the authorities of poor planning and demanded that the project be completed at the earliest to ease traffic congestion.

Highway Protest Disrupts Traffic

A large number of residents gathered on the highway, blocking traffic and raising slogans against the delay in the bridge repair work. They said the prolonged closure has caused daily hardship for commuters, students, transport operators and local businesses.

The protesters alleged that repeated traffic diversions have led to severe congestion, significantly increasing travel time for those using the route.

Police personnel reached the spot shortly after the protest began and held discussions with the demonstrators. Traffic was restored after officials assured the protesters that their concerns would be conveyed to the relevant authorities.

Why Is the Cauvery Bridge Closed?

The old Cauvery bridge was closed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on June 25 to undertake a major maintenance and strengthening project. Officials said it is the first extensive repair of the bridge in nearly 16 years.

The project, estimated to cost around ₹10 crore, is expected to take about three months to complete. During this period, traffic has been diverted through alternate routes.

According to officials, the repairs are essential to strengthen the ageing bridge, improve structural safety and ensure it remains fit to handle increasing traffic in the years ahead.

Residents Raise Concerns Over Planning

Residents said the inconvenience has been worsened by inadequate traffic management and poor communication before the bridge closure.

Many claimed they received little advance notice, leaving regular commuters and transport operators unprepared. They also pointed out that the diversion routes are struggling to accommodate the increased traffic, resulting in long queues and bottlenecks, especially during peak hours.

Protesters urged the authorities to speed up the repair work, improve traffic arrangements and provide regular updates on the project’s progress.

Authorities Urge Public Cooperation

Officials have appealed to commuters to use the designated diversion routes and cooperate with traffic police while the repair work is underway.

They maintained that although the temporary inconvenience is unavoidable, the maintenance project is necessary to ensure the long-term safety and durability of the bridge. Authorities added that efforts are being made to minimise disruption, and the bridge is expected to remain closed for approximately three months until the repairs are completed.

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