Dhanushkodi, an holy destination for pilgrims and tourists at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu, will get a good road before the end of this year.

The road, which was devoured by the cyclonic storm in 1964, is being freshly paved by the highways authorities from Mukundharayar Chattiram to Dhanushkodi, which is considered the ‘Athi Sethu’ (the ancient Sethu Samuthiram).

At present, pilgrims visit the holy place by taking four-wheel driven vehicles, as they have to drive through sand dunes. It is believed that visit to Rameswaram would not be completed unless they go to Dandhukodi also.

The Government had last year sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the project, A Arjunan, Chairman of Rameswaram Municipality, told PTI.

According to Balamurugan, Chief Engineer of National Highways, the four-km stretch from Mukundharayar Chattiram has been completed and the second phase till Arichalmunai is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

He said they want to complete the entire stretch as early as possible as the consecration of Sri Ramanthaswamy temple, which would attract lakhs of pilgrims from all over the country, is expected to be held by the year-end.

Dhanushkodi was a commercial centre since 1914, as the British operated goods ferry from Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar. The entire Dhanushkodi was swept by tidal waves in 1964, after which both road and rail link to the town got disconnected.

Though a road was laid in 1975, due to poor quality, it did not last long. Since then, pilgrims and local body officials have been demanding to lay a good road to Dhanushkodi.

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