Protesting Sarkarpalayam residents assured of a subway on Trichy-Chennai NH

Trichy: Two days after villagers in Sarkarpalayam near Trichy city blocked the Trichy-Chennai national highway in protest against the closure of old Cauvery bridge and subsequent traffic diversions, the district administration on Monday held a peace talk and assured that a subway will be constructed to help villagers cross the highway.Village representatives who attended the peace talk were warned not to block the highway in future. Instead, they were urged to democratically submit their demands to the authorities so that the commuters will not suffer.“Representatives from NHAI said that the tender floated for a new vehicular underpass on the Trichy-Chennai NH will be opened on July 16. Construction work may commence within the second week of September.

Villagers accepted the response,” a senior revenue department official said.In the meeting held at Trichy RDO office, Sarkarpalayam villagers were also assured that a limited-use subway will be built across the highway to help villagers reach Odathurai Road and other areas.“NHAI has said that the structure will be built with a design that prevents water stagnation,” the revenue official added.It is to be noted that, frustrated with the traffic diversions enforced for the redevelopment work on old Cauvery bridge, Sarkarpalayam residents resorted to a road roko protest on June 27, jeopardising vehicular movement for more than three hours. A section of protesters was also booked by the police for causing inconvenience to the public.