IT firm to fund streetlights on Trichy IT Park Road

Trichy: In a major relief for employees commuting to the Navalpattu SEZ and ELCOT IT Park near Trichy International Airport, an IT company operating within the campus has come forward to fund the installation of additional streetlights along the IT Park Road under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) said the Thiruverumbur Block Development Office (BDO) received a proposal from SPI Technologies expressing interest in sponsoring new streetlights to improve safety for thousands of employees using the road.The move follows a representation submitted by road safety activist R Thiruvenkadam to the chief minister’s special cell, highlighting inadequate lighting on the 5-km stretch between the ELCOT IT Park and Gundur on the Trichy-Pudukottai National Highway.At present, streetlights are installed only on one side of the 100-ft-wide road, leaving large portions of the stretch poorly lit. Employees, particularly those travelling on two-wheelers during night shifts, have raised concerns about accidents involving stray cattle crossing or resting on the road. “Both sides of the road will be illuminated, and the entire stretch will be covered. The company will be asked to commence the work under CSR at the earliest,” a DRDA official said.

The addition of streetlights is expected to address the long-pending demand of IT park employees. Residents and workers have also urged authorities to remove encroachments along the road and take up tree plantation and beautification works through CSR initiatives.