Fitness freaks in the city have some good news at last. The walkers track around Anna Stadium is to be improved soon in a big way even as a new track has been opened at Thillai Nagar in the city. The walkers track around the stadium, which has been lying in neglect, has caught the eye of authorities with P.Kumar, Tiruchi MP, sanctioning Rs.50 lakhs from his Local Area Development Fund for developing it.
Although a large number of walkers have been using the facility, the track has been ill maintained with thick growth of bushes all around. Garbage could be seen strewn along the track with a garbage bin placed right on the track.
Last year, the district authorities had announced that the track would be improved as part of the city beautification initiative to be taken up with private participation. But there was not much headway made in this direction. The allocation of funds by Mr.Kumar has raised expectations among regulars to the walker track.
“The track has been in pathetic condition, forcing us to walk on roads. Many residents from Thillai Nagar and other parts of the city used to come here previously. But they have now chosen to go elsewhere as the track is not in a proper condition. The absence of proper lighting is another problem. We hope the track is re-laid with proper amenities,” said R.Gopal, a resident of K.K.Nagar.
Mr.Kumar says the administration is committed to ensuring a comprehensive development of the facility. “The track would be developed with paved walkway and landscape. I have made only the initial allocation. The district authorities will soon prepare the estimate for the project and I am willing to sanction more funds based on the requirement. We want to develop the track fully,” Mr.Kumar told The Hindu .
Meanwhile, a new walkers’ track which has come up inside a public park at Thillai Nagar has been quietly thrown open for the public over the past few days. Although the park, situated to the rear of Fort Railway Station, has not been officially declared open yet, the corporation has thrown open the facility without much ado. The facility remained closed for the past couple of months.
The civic body has invested about Rs.30 lakh for laying the track and building a landscape around the park. The park is now open for a couple of hours in the morning from 6 a.m. and from 5 p.m. in the evenings.
“In the absence of a proper facility, residents of Thillai Nagar and surrounding areas were using Shastri Road, Fort Station Road, and even the platforms of Fort Station for morning walk. We appreciate the corporations effort to set up a walkers track now. However, the facility should be open early in the morning, at least from 5 a.m., the usual time for many regular walkers in the area,” said C.Ashok, a resident of Thennur.
