Residents of various colonies staged a protest fast on Tuesday in front of the Thudialur bus stand protesting against the proposed land acquisition for the Western Bypass Road from Madukkarai to Thudialur.
The proposed road from Madukkarai cutting across Siruvani Road, Marudhamalai Road and Thadagam Road to join Mettuppalayam Road is expected to ease congestion within the city. The proposed project at Rs. 284 crore passes through areas such as Kovaipudur, Somayampalayam, Pannimadai and the latest alignment proposed is likely to damage houses, apartments and lands.
Residents of these areas pointed out that the original alignment had very little disturbance to existing civil structures. But, all of a sudden, the officials have changed the alignment affecting a lot of residential colonies which would render hundreds of families homeless. Residents said that they were not against the bypass road but were only against the present alignment.
The residents threatened to stage self-immolation at the Collectorate if their demands were not met.
