Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports, E.V. Velu inaugurating the work on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The State Highways Department has commenced work to widen the narrow Forest Road, which navigates through thick reserve forests between Jamunamarathur and Amirthi Zoo for a distance of 39 km, into a two-lane stretch at a cost of ₹103 crore. The road lies on Jawadhu Hills in the Tiruvannamalai-Vellore border.
Accompanied by B. Krishnasamy and P. Gnanavel, Superintending Engineer (SE) and Divisional Engineer (DE) of State Highways respectively, Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports, E.V. Velu, laid the foundation for the project in Jamunamarathur village on Sunday.
Highways’ officials said that the single-lane stretch was once a pathway used mostly by tribal people living in the hills. Subsequently, the pathway was bitumen-topped, mainly for forest officials to patrol the hills to prevent poaching and other illegal activities. Since then, the stretch was not re-laid for many years.
Around 232 tribal hamlets are located in the hills. At present, the hills are divided into two halves with Jamunamarathur village, located at the centre of the hills, connecting Tiruvannamalai and Vellore. The existing two-lane bitumen stretch between Jamunamarathur and Polur town, 47 kms from the hills, provides much-needed connectivity for tribals to reach key towns like Arani, Cheyyar and Tiruvannamalai in the plains.
Highways’ officials said that the stretch will be widened from 3.75 metres to 5.5 metres. The widened stretch will have paved shoulders to provide durability to the carriageway and prevent any accidental fall of vehicles into the valley. The stretch will also have a retaining wall for a distance of 2,810 metres, with signage, reflectors and road markings to ensure the safety of motorists. The use of blinkers and LED street lights will be avoided in the stretch to allow for free movement of wild animals during night.
The Department has identified around 16 culverts and five causeways on the route, especially near Amirthi Zoo. These facilities will be rebuilt to allow vehicular movement during monsoon. Additionally, stormwater drains to a length of 3,421 metres will be built to discharge excess rainwater from the hill slopes.
“The widened stretch in the hills will have additional safety measures to ensure the safety of vehicles. The entire work will be completed in 2026,” S. Thirunavukarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Polur), told The Hindu.
“The pot-holed stretch is a lifeline for tribals in the hills as it provides key access to towns in the plains. Once widened, the new stretch will help to transport sick persons easily in ambulances,” said B. Sadaiyan, a resident.
Published – February 16, 2026 12:07 am IST
