Bridges – Connecting Places or Death Trap?

After the rain in Chennai, we are all aware that the roads are in pathetic condition and lot of them is re-laid as well as patched for the emergency on the main area. In the ECR road there are some roads which only the local users will be aware of which are connecting roads between the ECR and OMR.
We were just a taking a look at some of these roads and bridges which are narrow and connects these roads and bridges over the Buckingham canal which is heart of the road connecting them.
It would be pathetic to be called so; they are built of wooden planks which are surviving traffic of nearly 3000 people on an average and lot of vehicular traffic like the Share Autorickshaw, Private Auto and Minidors on a regular basis. They are a source of instant danger to anyone who does not travel in broad daylight. Also in the morning as onlooker we were watching the extent of the traffic on this and you will notice that we will have to wait to cross the so-called bridge. The bridge we are deliberating was constructed in 19.09.2006 as part of the scheme of things connecting the ECR & OMR by way of roads & bridges is Pandian Salai of Neelangarai and OMR – Thoriapakkam. This bridge has a square hole to the left of the bridge traverse while entering from the Neelangarai.
We spoke to the locals only to know that this one has been in this condition for the past two months or so and there was another one to the right of this which was still worse. We also decided to examine the bridge, only to find that it was virtually on the floor of the canal. On speaking to the locals, they were saying that it has been like this for the past few years. On checking with them they also added that the contractors were not coming forward to build these bridges in support of the local bodies functioning as they were not willing to go against them for several reasons which could affect their day-today lives as well.
We can only hope that this could serve as eye opener to those who are in relevant position to take up this job as priority and solve the difficulty of the users in this area. As if they did not use this bridge they will necessarily need to come to Thiruvanmiyur which will be long de-tour for them. They are forced for certain daily hardships along with the risk that is accompanying this issue.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pamban Swamigal

Image
Pamban Swamigal was born on Pamban near Rameswaram for Mr. Sattappa Pillai and Mrs. Sengamala ammai in the year 1850. The name given to him by his parents was Appavu. Basically Appavu was a quick learner and one day he went to Naganathar Temple he saw a Sivanadiyar continuously chanting “Siva-Siva”. On seeing it he exclaimed and he also began to chant the same from that time continuously for three days. After 3 days he got an intention to read Murugan Bakthi books. At that time a devotee told him that Lord Muruga and Lord Siva are same and Appavu believed it strongly. At that time he got the Kandar Sasti Kavacham (by Devaraya Swamigal) book and he started the parayana of Kandar Sasti Kavacham. He studied it in the given manner like he read it 36 times a day (oru naal muppataruru kondu…). One day when he was at his coconut garden he started to write stotras on Muruga as a fruit of the parayana of Sasti Kavacham starting with the sentence “Gangayai sadayil Parithu…”. It is believed that
Read more

Story of Thiruvidanthai Temple

The third incarnation of Mahavishnu is in the form of a boar called Varaha. There are many shrines dedicated to Varaha and one such temple is Thiruvidanthai, near Mahabalipuram. The presiding deity is Lord Lakshmi Varaha and his divine consort is Komalavalli Thayar. The temple is rich in puranic lore. Sage Kalava, believed to have 360 daughters, lived at this place which was an agraharam those days (place where Brahmins live). To get his daughters married was a Herculean task and this he surrendered to the Lord Mahavishnu, known for his benevolence, assumed the form of a Brahmachari (bachelor) and visited. Kalava’s first daughter’s house and proposed to her and tied the nuptial knot. As it was customary, after the marriage , the couple went to Varahaswamy temple to seek his blessings. The couple vanished mysteriously once they entered the sanctum sanctorum. This was repeated to the rest of Kalava’s daughters day after day. Bewildered, the sage wanted to know the fate of his daughters
Read more

St Anthony Shrin, Palavakkam Chennai

St Anthony Shrine’s humble origin dates back to the year 1997 when on 24th February, the Catholic residents of Palkalainagar, Palavakkam, enthusiastically erected a thatched shed in honour of St. Anthony with permission and blessings from the late Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, Most Rev. Dr. Arul Das James, and under the spiritual guidance of Rev. Fr. Vincent Chinnadurai, then Parish Priest of St. Joseph's Church, Erukanchery.From 27th February, 1997 onwards, Rev. Fr. P.M. George, then Parish Priest of Sts. Joachim and Anne Church, Vettuvankeni, began to conduct Holy Mass and Novena prayers in honour of this saint. St. Anthony, already renowned for his power of attracting the devotees, began to manifest his blessings and gathered people, irrespective of their caste and creed. It was witnessed that particularly on Tuesdays devotees thronged this humble abode of St. Anthony to receive his favours and blessings. St Anthony Shrine located near seaside of Palavakkam has conducted two da
Read more