Around five months ago, the Dharmapuri administration proposed the long-pending Komberi–Kaalikarambu road scheme, intended to improve connectivity between Dharmapuri, Bommidi, Pappireddipatti and Kadathur blocks. The project initially required 3.96 kilometres of construction at a cost of Rs 27 million. The revised alignment, however, now demands 6 kilometres of land.
J Prathapan, District Secretary of the United Communist Party of India, said that building a short stretch of road in Middardihalli between Kalikarambu and Kombai could save up to 30 kilometres of travel for residents of nearby areas. He criticised what he described as poor planning and official negligence, arguing that a proper assessment at the outset would have avoided the need for realignment.
Nallampalli resident M Valluvan said the road would have encouraged business activity and infrastructure development in isolated villages, and improved access to healthcare, education and livelihoods for residents of Bommidi and Pappireddipatti. He added that the flawed assessment would now delay these benefits.
Project Director of the DRDA, Reuban Sankar Raj, said the realignment was unavoidable because the earlier route would have posed difficulties for vehicles on the hilly terrain. He confirmed that a revised proposal has been submitted to the forest department for clearance.
