Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sarkarpalayam Villagers demand construction of subway

TIRUCHI: Residents of over a dozen villages off the Sarkarpalayam-Kallanai Road that runs along the right bank of the Cauvery have demanded the construction of a subway or road overbridge across the Tiruchi-Chennai By-pass Road that has been four-laned now.

The daily routine of over 50,000 families, including school children, in the villages along the river banks have been thrown out of gear as the four-laning project has forced them to take a detour and denied them direct access towards Chathram Bus Stand in the city, the residents complain.

The Kallanai Road joins the bypass near the Cauvery bridge on the outskirts of the city. The four-lane road has now been laid on an elevated plain (with the height being increased by about 12 feet) and vehicles going across Oyyamari Road from the Kallanai Road have been denied a direct connection. The vehicles have to go along By-Pass Road for over a couple of kilometres to take a detour. This has caused tremendous hardship to the people residing along the Cauvery banks, residents contend.

On Monday, a large number of residents, including scores of women, thronged the Collectorate to present a petition and demanded an immediate solution. “We have made several representations over the past two months. But so far no action has been taken,” said K.Venkataraman, President, Panayakurichi Panchayat, who along several other panchayat presidents and residents submitted the representation to the Collector.

Residents of Panayakurichi, Mullaikudi, Ottakudi, Puthavaram, Gandhipuram, Kuvalakudi, Vengur, Arasangudi, Kiliyur, Sarkarpalayam and those downstream on the Kallanai-Thirukattupalli belt have been affected. Besides, the road is also being used by many as a short-cut to travel up to Kumbakonam, Mr.Venkataraman said.

Collector T.Soundiah assured the residents that a decision would be taken on the issue after the general elections.

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