THANJAVUR: People living in areas around the newly constructed over-bridge at Mary’s corner on Santhapillai railway gate undertook a fast demanding reconstruction of the over-bridge as per the original specifications.
They said that if the defective bridge with cracks on black-topping, side walls and altered from the original plan is opened now, it will become a death trap with frequent accidents possible on Mary’s corner side where the over-bridge ends abruptly.
Rasu.Muniyandi, coordinator of the agitation committee led the fast. V. Jeevakumar, advocate and district vice-president of Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Thozhil-alargal Sangam affiliated to CPI (M), Virudachalam and Rajeswaran, former municipal councillors participated in the fast. Members of Autorickshaw drivers unions also participated in the fast.
He also said that the over-bridge has been constructed by reducing 300 metres of length from the original plan. Moreover, it has been constructed obstructing Nanjikottai road.
“There are three higher secondary schools, five middle schools, one Industrial Training Institute (ITI), four marriage halls, two churches and two temples on Nanjikottai road. Thousands of people living in ten villages around Nanjikottai road from Kallukulam to Karunanidhi Nagar use the road. These have not been taken into consideration by the builders of the over-bridge. Though many petitions have been given earlier to A.Annadurai, Thanjavur district collector to modify the structure of the over-bridge, nothing had been done so far,” said Muniyandi.
“Now the over-bridge should be reconstructed as per the original plan. An inquiry should be instituted into the construction of the over-bridge as cracks had developed already in the bridge. Until then, the over-bridge should not be opened,” Muniyandi urged.
