The Ramalingapuram railway underbridge is noted for its high volume of traffic. It is also the prime spot for publicity agents to put up wall posters and flexes. The result: the walls wear an unpleasant look.
But, things changed a few weeks ago when a team of young volunteers came forward to clean up the walls. They not only removed the posters from the walls but painted it with portraits of freedom fighters and renowned personalities.
When they started removing stains from the walls, passersby took them lightly and wondered if their effort would send a message. But, they soon changed their opinion, as the walls began to a clean and bright look. The portraits of Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru further enhanced the image of the surroundings.
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Now, everybody appreciates the efforts of the young men who say that the initiative was taken up drawing inspiration the ‘Swachh Bharath’ campaign.
“We have adopted all railway underbridges in the city. As these are the most neglected spots, a clean drive should begin here, and we will do our best,” said K. Praveen Kumar, president of ‘Nestham’, a voluntary organisation, which has nearly 300 young volunteers.
The Nestham volunteers are also involved in blood and eye donation programmes as part of their social service initiatives. Now, they want to expand their programmes further to reach out to needy sections of society.
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Nestham vice-president M. Vikram Kumar says the volunteers are happy that they have the support of the public and adds the backing of painters is all the more memorable. The organisation is now planning to paint the under bridge at Magunta Layout and other places in due course of time.