As many as 15 tribal hamlets in the western hills area of Bargur remain without bus service for the past four weeks as repair works to the service roads that are damaged during last month’s rains are yet to be carried out.
Over 5,200 people reside in these hamlets and were depending on the pick-up vans to reach Thamaraikarai, Bargur and Anthiyur. The long-pending demand of the people was fulfilled after Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited started operating a bus from Anthiyur to Kongadai in February 2018. Since rains damage the roads, work on to construct culverts at 14 locations between Thamaraikarai and Thalakarai Junction began six months ago. The contractor laid service roads where work is in progress. However, the roads turned slushy during rains and the bus got stuck in slush on October 7. Thereafter, bus service remains suspended as people were once again forced to depend on pick-up vans for commuting.
V.P. Gunasekaran, president of Tamil Nadu Tribal People Association said that the service road is very narrow and is fully damaged. He said that people in hill areas suffer immensely without adequate transportation and wanted the contractor to carry out repairs to the roads on a war-footing so that bus service resume at the earliest. Though the issue was taken up with the Collector and the Anthiyur BDO last month, no action has been taken so far, said the people.
ADVERTISEMENT