Senthurai road, one of the major thoroughfares in the town, has been lying in neglect for want of proper upkeep. The road that passes through many important localities such as main vegetable market, college road, railway station, and a few cement factories, has been in a bad shape for the past few years. The work undertaken for the underground drainage has caused extensive damage to it. The work has not been completed, nor has the ground dug for laying pipelines been closed properly.
Both town and mofussil buses proceeding to Senthurai and other towns such as Pennadam and Thittakkudi in the neighbouring Cuddalore district prefer to skip the road. Vehicles transporting vegetables to the daily market have to experience a backbreaking experience to meander through the road to deliver goods to traders. Vehicle owners from the localities complain that their vehicles often develop snags.
People of Ariyalur and surrounding villages frequently visit the towns in Cuddalore district. Since the buses plying to these towns take the ring road from the bus stand avoiding Senthurai road, the people have to proceed either to the bus stand or to the ring road to board the buses. The residents of the localities have to spend between Rs.50 and Rs.100 for autos to reach back home after arriving at Ariyalur bus stand.
“The poor condition of the road is posing hardship to the business community,” complains A. Bakurtheen, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) municipal councillor representing ward five, the biggest ward in Ariyalur municipality. The matter has been brought to the notice of the authorities on many occasions, but nothing tangible has been done to relay the road, he adds.
Mr. Bakurtheen pleads for the speedy execution of the underground drainage project.