For over a year now, residents of Paramankeni, an area along the East Coast Road (ECR), have been risking their lives travelling on a narrow dilapidated bridge across the South Buckingham canal.
It is their only connection to other parts of the city. Paramankeni, which has predominantly fisherfolk population, is near the popular tourist destination of Mudaliarkuppam.
Though several demonstrations have been held over the past years, a Rs. four-crore project to build a new bridge across the 70-metre-wide canal still remains only on paper.
About 450 families in the area and school children depend on the single-lane bridge for everyday commute. But many of them avoid walking on the 30-year-old bridge after dusk as there are no lights in the region.
“Concrete has worn out on the bridge and iron rods are visible. We don’t have a choice but to use the bridge to reach ECR. Several school children and those going to hospitals use this facility that does not even have a side wall,” said A. Murugavel, a resident.
Some residents also use small boats to cross the canal, which is eight feet deep. V.S. Raji, Cheyyur MLA, said: “It has been over six months since the project estimate for a new bridge was prepared. I have also written to the State government on the dire need to construct a new bridge here. If it collapses, residents will have to take a detour of eight km via Mugaiyur.”
Earlier, the Water Resources Department had placed sand bags to support the damaged stretch of the bridge. “We are waiting for the State government’s nod for the project. The new bridge will be 5.25 metres wide,” said an official.
