As new bridge takes shape, pain of Paramankeni residents to ease
The long-standing dream of residents of Paramankeni, located close to the backwaters of Mudaliarkuppam on East Coast Road, is finally taking shape. A bridge, being constructed across the South Buckingham canal, will end their daily ordeal soon.
For several years, residents of Paramankeni had to take a hazardous ride or walk on the dilapidated narrow bridge, which was built 30 years ago, to reach other parts of the ECR. While welcoming the move to replace the damaged bridge, residents complained of slow progress in constructing the facility.
P. Kamalakannan, a resident, said it is the only means of connectivity to reach ECR for over 1,000 families in Paramankeni and neighbouring fishing hamlets. “Until the work to construct the bridge was started, school children took boat rides to cross the Buckingham canal. Now, there is a mud road laid across the canal temporarily to help residents travel to other localities,” he said.
However, residents noted that they were able to manage travel on the mud road without fear of it getting washed away as there were not many rains during the last northeast monsoon. They demanded that the work build the bridge be completed soon.
S. Dilli Babu, former Paramankeni panchayat president, said residents otherwise have to take a detour of five to six km through neighbouring areas such as Seekanangkuppam, Perundurai and Maduvankarai. Many fishermen depended on the bridge for their trade. “Approach road must be laid soon so that the bridge can be thrown open for use,” he said.
The Water Resources Department started the project to construct the bridge at a cost of Rs.9 crore last year. The 5.25-metre wide bridge is being constructed across the 70-metre wide canal. Sources in the department said nearly 65 per cent of the work has been completed and the project will be completed in three months.
The long-standing dream of residents of Paramankeni, located close to the backwaters of Mudaliarkuppam on East Coast Road, is finally taking shape. A bridge, being constructed across the South Buckingham canal, will end their daily ordeal soon.
For several years, residents of Paramankeni had to take a hazardous ride or walk on the dilapidated narrow bridge, which was built 30 years ago, to reach other parts of the ECR. While welcoming the move to replace the damaged bridge, residents complained of slow progress in constructing the facility.
P. Kamalakannan, a resident, said it is the only means of connectivity to reach ECR for over 1,000 families in Paramankeni and neighbouring fishing hamlets. “Until the work to construct the bridge was started, school children took boat rides to cross the Buckingham canal. Now, there is a mud road laid across the canal temporarily to help residents travel to other localities,” he said.
However, residents noted that they were able to manage travel on the mud road without fear of it getting washed away as there were not many rains during the last northeast monsoon. They demanded that the work build the bridge be completed soon.
S. Dilli Babu, former Paramankeni panchayat president, said residents otherwise have to take a detour of five to six km through neighbouring areas such as Seekanangkuppam, Perundurai and Maduvankarai. Many fishermen depended on the bridge for their trade. “Approach road must be laid soon so that the bridge can be thrown open for use,” he said.
The Water Resources Department started the project to construct the bridge at a cost of Rs.9 crore last year. The 5.25-metre wide bridge is being constructed across the 70-metre wide canal. Sources in the department said nearly 65 per cent of the work has been completed and the project will be completed in three months.