The project director of National Highway Authority of India -Salem Project Implementation Unit (NHAI- PIU), S. Srinivasulu, said that 41.53% of the work on the Thoppur Ghat Improvement Project on NH-44 has been completed.

Following frequent accidents in the Thoppur Ghat section, the Union Road Transport Ministry announced that the alignment of the ghat section would be improved. The project is aimed at alleviating the difficulties of road users due to steep gradients in the area. Based on the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation for the work on March 11, 2024. 

On Monday, Mr. Srinivasulu inspected the ongoing works along with the officials at Mettur-Thoppur Junction and at Anjaneyar Temple.

Mr. Srinivasalu told reporters later that the 6.60 km-long project is being implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode at an awarded cost of ₹548 crore, against an estimated project cost of ₹905 crore. The work started on March 21, 2025, and is scheduled for completion on March 20, 2028.

The work is on a par with the scheduled timeline. Under the project, the existing four-lane is being upgraded into a six-lane corridor with paved shoulders, incorporating advanced engineering solutions to improve safety. Out of the 6.60 km, 3.10 km passes through Thoppur and Barigam reserve forests in Dharmapuri district.

In the remaining 3.50 km, the Salem district covers 1.60 km and the Dharmapuri district 1.90 km. For this project, 13.427 hectares of forest land was acquired and in return revenue lands were provided to the Forest Department, along with a payment of ₹13 crore paid, Mr. Srinivasulu added.

Stating that 80 people died in this ghat section from 2018, the project director said that this number includes only those who died on the spot; those who succumbed to injuries in the hospital are excluded. In the past eight years (from 2018 to 2026), 630 accidents have occurred in this ghat section and 2,173 people were affected. The NHAI usually sanctions ₹50 crore for laying one km of road. However, ₹137.32 crore has been sanctioned per km for this project.

Out of 6.60 km, 3.68 km is an elevated corridor. Through this project, the steep gradient will be reduced from 9% to 3%. Under this project, 83 piers are to be constructed, ranging in height from 8 to 50 meters. This is a challenging project, as the work is being carried out in the hilly terrain without affecting the traffic flow. On an average, 60,000 vehicles use this ghat section every day. Upon completion of this project, accidents would reduce drastically, the project director added.

During the inspection, construction project head T.K. Sinha, Press Information Bureau (PIB) director P. Arun Kumar, media assistant of NHAI R. Sujatha, and other officials participated.