The decision of the Madurai Corporation to demolish two causeways connecting northand south Madurai has come in for sharp criticism from major Opposition parties.
The corporation authorities have planned to construct two flyovers at Aruldosspuram and Thirumalai Rayar Padithurai at a cost of Rs. 30 crore. For this purpose, they had proposed to demolish the existing causeways.
Opposing it vehemently, DMK’s district secretary and former MLA G. Thalapathi said that at a time when more bridges were needed, the AIADMK government was demolishing the existing causeways. “Just because the DMK (during its regime) had constructed the structures, those in power want to demolish them. The people should join us and condemn the move. We are planning to take it up with our high command and invite M.K. Stalin to stage a demonstration here against the move during mid-May,” he added.
DMK councillor and leader in the Corporation Council M.L. Raj said that the demolition exercise would only add more problems to slow-moving vehicles. “There is so much space available and the engineers should examine alternatives. If the causeways are weak, they should be strengthened and not demolished,” he said.
MDMK urban secretary ‘Pudur’ K. Bhoominathan said that the officials and those in power should find ways to decongest traffic and not introduce congestion. The move to demolish the causeways would only choke vehicular movement in the city. “We will definitely show our objection,” he also added.
Siva Muthukumar of the DMDK suggested that the corporation could construct the new flyovers sparing the existing causeways. Closing a facility would only add up to city’s traffic problems.
Welcome
Welcoming the move to construct two new flyovers, CPI (M)’s district secretary R. Vijayarajan said that the technical feasibility should again be studied by the authorities so that the causeways could remain as such.
Social activists and road users said that construction of bridges and widening of roads were essential. Traffic congestion was experienced not just in peak hours, but even at odd hours.
Hence, existing infrastructural facilities should be augmented and not knocked down, unless they had weakened.
Explaining the technical aspects, senior engineers in the corporation said that the new facility would become possible only after the demolition of the existing causeways.
