Illegal structures pulled down at Thalaikundah

Debris used for filling potholes on NH-67 at Thalaikundah in the Nilgiris

National Highway 67 being filled at Nondimedu near Ooty. Photo: M. Sathyamoorthy

A development on Wednesday gave the people of this hill station something to cheer about.

The district administration joined hands with the State Highways Department and razed to the ground a number of unauthorised structures along the Ooty-Kalhatty Road at Thalaikundah and later teamed up with the transport department to use the debris to carry out temporary repairs on the badly damaged Ooty- Coonoor-Burliar stretch of NH- 67.

Speaking to

The Hindu , the Regional Transport Officer D. Venkataraman said that with complaints mounting about the appalling condition of the national highway which was posing a threat to motorists, “we were on the lookout for ways to provide at least a temporary solution”.

With the operation demolition being launched by the state highways officials, a suggestion had been put forth to the Nilgiris Collector Archana Patnaik that debris could be put to good use.