While highways department has begun clearing trees on the Manapparai-Dindigul road to make space for a new road overbridge (ROB), the town residents are clamouring for the resumption of work on the incomplete ROB on the Manapparai-Tiruchi road.
Though construction of the ROB on the Tiruchi road, an important approach to Manapparai town, began over two years ago, it has come to a halt over the past few months.
“With traffic through the road already suspended most of the traffic in and out of Manapparai use the Dindigul road presently,” said S. Kanagaraju, sub inspector (traffic), Manapparai.
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According to Mr. Kanagaraju, the proposed ROB on the Dindigul road would cut off all entries to Manapparai, making it extremely difficult for the public to commute.
Many cite unresolved issues between house owners and the revenue department in the taking over of their land for the ROB that remains incomplete.
At the moment, it stands without the central portion that will eventually connect its two skewed ends, while businesses continue to function beneath, indicating the futility of eviction drives.
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Recently at an all party meeting, representatives of various political parties and social service organisations in Manapparai, discussed problems caused by the incomplete ROB.
“In a petition submitted to the Collector, we have pointed out the problems, especially that people travelling by buses at night from Tiruchi and Dindigul have to walk 1.5 kilometres from the bypass road to the town, because a majority of buses refuse to come to Manapparai,” said K.M. Pichai, town president, Indian National Congress.
While they weren’t against the construction of a new ROB, Mr. Pichai said that they demanded speedy completion of the one on the Tiruchi road “so that Manapparai doesn’t become a traffic island.”
Another cry of protest came in the form of a wailing agitation organised by N. Chinnadurai, founder-president, Mathiya Podhu Thozhilalar Sangam (MPTS).
“Unless we held something as dramatic as a wailing agitation we wouldn’t have been able to reach the government officials or the public,” said Mr. Chinnadurai.
The incomplete ROB, he felt, created a huge volley of problems.
“There are nearly a lakh people living outside the town area, inconvenienced greatly by the roundabout route to Manapparai for work, education and healthcare. It is extremely difficult for people to leave town, especially when a pregnant woman or a seriously wounded person needs immediate hospitalisation.
Even the dead have to follow this circuitous route for their last rites.”
The traffic police and the municipality are trying to working out an arrangement that could lessen Manapparai’s traffic woes.
“A temporary bus stand could be set up on the bypass road with a couple of buses plying from there to the town bus stand,” suggested Mr. Kanagaraju.
Another suggestion involves making the railway track road and the Dindigul road one way, with the former being used exclusively to enter Manapparai while the latter is meant for exit.
V. Shantha, chairman, Manapparai municipality, felt a couple of temporary passenger trains could be introduced between Tiruchi and Manapparai to ease the situation a little.
“There are hundreds of construction labourers and students travelling to Tiruchi every day and they are one of the worst affected communities,” said Ms. Shantha.