Thanjavur: Thanjavur, being a heritage city and now included under smart city scheme and having the Big Temple, built by King Raja Raja Chola, which has been declared as a world heritage monument by Unesco, attracts large number of tourists every year both foreign and domestic.
A cradle of Indian art and culture, it is also an education centre with both government institutions of national importance and many private institutions located here. The city needs a good rail, road and air connectivity. That way, people of Thanjavur,- traders, farmers, educationists and bankers-, welcome the laying of Thanjavur-Vikravandi national highway to Chennai.
V. Jeevakumar, a farmer from Budalur and vice-president of Thanjavur district unit of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), said that this is a welcome move by government. “We have been demanding for this. But now it has come like a dream come true. But it should be quickly completed without further delay,” he said.
“Many people from Thanjavur go to Chennai via Tiruchy on the national highway from Tiruchy to Chennai. This road will help a lot. Thanjavur lost many trains after gauge conversion. Some of the trains which we lost are Rameswaram express, Janata express, Thanjavur-Chennai passenger, now Mannai express which has been diverted to its original route of Tiruvarur and Kamban express. Now we have only Uzhavan Express to Chennai in the night and Cholan Express in the day. More train services and also air connectivity which has been assured by the State government should be provided to Thanjavur” Jeevakumar said.
S. Balasubramanian, chairman, City Union Bank Ltd said, “it is a long felt need of people of Kumbakonam who have to take circuitous route (50- km additional) via Jayamkondam to catch Tiruchy-Chennai national highway at Ulundurpet to go to Chennai. This road will solve our problems.” R. Sethuraman, vice-chancellor, Sastra University, said that the road will help both people of Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, particularly students.
A. Giri, Thanjavur district rail users association, said, “this road is very much important for Kumbakonam, a centre of religious tourism. Many people, particularly come from Chennai to see the Vaishnavite and Navagraha temples around Kumbakonam; for them it will be easy to reach Kumbakonam via this national highway. It will be an important link during Mahamaham, which is celebrated once twelve years in the temple town for devotees to reach Kumbakonam.”
