More than 1 lakh to boycott polls over delay in laying of service lane at Tiruchy

The coordinators of Federation for Retrieval of Tiruchy Palpannai-Thuvakkudi Service Road on Thursday added that a letter would be sent to the Chief Election Commissioner announcing their decision.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) executed a four-lane project from Tiruchy Palpannai-Thuvakudi about two years ago. However, the industrialists with political influence prevented the laying of the service lanes as their properties would be affected due to it. However, this has resulted in more than 1,000 fatal accidents from 2000 to now, they alleged.

In this backdrop, the residents from areas along the Palpannai-Thuvakudi stretch, including Thuvakudi, BHEL Township, Indira Nagar, Vijaynagar, Dheenadhayalan Nagar, Balaji Nagar, Prakash Nagar, Kailash Nagar, Win Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Vignesh Nagar, Sakthi Nagar, Kattur and HAPP formed a federation to fight for the cause. While they have stage several protests, including hunger strikes, the elected representative would pacify them saying that funds for the project would be allocated soon. All these areas fall under Tiruverumbur assembly segment in Tiruchy LS constituency.

“It has become a routine affair that candidates would promise to lay service lands and forget after the elections. It is a nightmare to drive on this stretch,” said S Subramanian one of the coordinators told the reporters in Tiruchy on Thursday. He added that more than 10,000 students from 10 higher secondary schools, 20 primary schools, colleges and NIT will be benefitted if the service lanes are laid.

“We have even approached the court but failed to get any solution. More than one lakh voters will boycott the elections,” the coordinators added.