Councillors raise strong objection to undue delay in completion of Fort Station Road work

Undue delay in completion of the overbridge near the Fort Railway Station in the city dominated the proceedings of the Tiruchi Corporation Council meeting here on Thursday.

Raising the issue, L. Rex (Congress) representing Ward 39, said that the work, which was started in December 2023, had not been completed yet. It was one of the arterial roads in the city. It had been closed for traffic for about three years, causing severe hardship to commuters. The project was jointly taken up by the Corporation and the Southern Railway, said Mr. Rex and wanted to know whether the Corporation had completed its portion.

Mayor M. Anbazhagan said while the responsibility of forming the approach road from the eastern and western arms rested with the Corporation, the onus on building the overbridge was with the Southern Railway. Most components of Corporation work had been completed. Only a small portion of Corporation work was pending. It could be completed only after the completion of the bridge. The delay was mainly on the part of the Southern Railway, he said.

Mr. Rex said the Corporation could not escape from its responsibility by passing the buck. It should escalate the issue to the Southern Railway authorities.

T. Muthuselvam (DMK) representing Ward 57, said there should be a synergy between the Corporation and the Southern Railway in executing the project. The public should not be subjected to hardship as the Fort Station Road served as a major road connecting various parts of the city with commercial streets.

Mr. Anbazhagan said Rajya Sabha member Christopher Tilak and Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko had a greater role to play in impressing upon the railways to expedite the work. The Corporation would complete its portion within one month after the completion of the bridge work.

S. Muthukumar (MDMK) representing Ward 5 said the roads in Thiruvanaikoil were in poor condition. One of the roads, where the car of Jambukeswarar-Akilandeswari Temple was taken around, was laid with concrete. All roads should be made with concrete.

Drinking water supply

To a question on short supply of drinking water, Mr. Anbazhagan said the civic body was facing dip in yield due to dwindling water table at the pumping stations.

Corporation Commissioner N. Ponmani had taken up the issue with the Director of Municipal Corporation. A sum of ₹6 crore, which was originally allocated to the Corporation to sink borewells at the source in the Cauvery, and returned to the State government following the opening of water from Mettur dam, was likely to be redirected for sinking borewells at the source in the Kollidam.