Delay in bridge project causing concern

The temporary causeway that was put across Jamunai Odai in Tirupur was washed away in recent rains. —Photo: R. VIMAL KUMAR

Huge delay in commencing the proposed high-level bridge work at Puliyamarathottam in the city across Jamunai Odai, a tributary of River Noyyal, is causing immense hardship to people who have to cross either side on foot and vehicles.

The makeshift causeway built on the sector in lieu of the original causeway, which was washed away in flash foods last year, too, collapsed in the current rains experienced in the city disrupting the movement of people and vehicles yet again.

“We have given many petitions to the Corporation officials seeking expeditious completion of the bridge about five months back itself as the makeshift causeway the authorities put up in the area without any side railings, was found dangerous for crossovers.

“But unfortunately, the construction has not yet commenced though the project was conceptualised long back.

“Now, even the makeshift causeway has crumbled after it got soaked in the rain and at least now the officials need to get more serious,” Aam Aadmi Party district convener S. Sundarapandian, who had raised the issue many times, told The Hindu .

People in the area who used to cross either way on foot now have to walk a long way to reach the other side after the collapse of the temporary crossover facility.

When contacted, M. Tamilselvan, the Executive Engineer of Tirupur Corporation, told this paper that the work on the Rs. 75 lakh bridge would start soon and the project would be commissioned for public use within six months from the date of commencement of the work.

“The slowdown in starting the work has been due to the delay in getting the requisite sanctions from higher authorities concerned,” corporation sources added.