Pachamalai Hills Finally Get New Road Connectivity After Years of Demand

After a prolonged wait, the residents of Pachamalai Hills in the Tiruchi district have been able to travel through a newly-constructed stretch of road linkage between two villages, Sholamathi and Ettimadai, in Thuraiyur taluk. 1.3 million project by the Forest Department was completed under *Infrastructure Development in Tribal Habitation.’

The new road cuts short almost 5 km of distance between the two villages, which, the locals claim, will ease their daily commuting very much. It shall facilitate the connection to life-existence services, for example, health services, schools, and markets within the plains, for residents who will struggle to connect to those.

“Earlier, we had to take longer and difficult routes, especially during the monsoons, when the journey was so very unsafe. This new road would be a great advantage in terms of saving travel time while trying to get to hospitals during emergencies,” said a resident of Sholamathi.

Officials stated that with the new link, larger links in the region would also be restored to several smaller hamlets that were long cut off by rough terrain. Road construction will provide a better and safer route to minimize accidents and travel disturbances during heavy rains.

However, this development not only provides relief to residents but may also create an avenue for eco-tourism. The Pachamalai Hills are biodiversity hotspots that attract visitors year-round with their trekking trails and cultural traditions of tribal communities. With better road access, local stakeholders believe an increased tourist influx would benefit small traders and homestays.

Tourism too expressed excitement over the upgrade: “Travel to Pachamalai Hills was always scenic yet difficult. Now that the roads are up to scratch, more people will consider visiting.” So said a Tiruchirappalli resident who had visited the hill station many times.

The Forest Department continues to affirm the timely completion of the project and has stated that further works aimed at improving connectivity in the tribal belts are under consideration.

To the tribal people of the Pachamalai Hills, a road is more than an asphalt strip; it promises better mobility, safety, and much sought-after knitting into a greater district network.