CHENNAI: A 90-year-old marriage hall in the Ayanavaram Railway Quarters complex on the Konnur High Road which is now dilapidated, is all set for an external make-over at a cost of `45 lakh. However, residents of the colony are unhappy with the decision as they want to demolish the building and build from scratch.
“The building required regular maintenance by the railway authorities, but it was neglected. Because of shrubs and other growth, it was used by anti-social elements and like many other railway buildings, it began to rot,” said a 50-year-old resident of the colony, who wished to remain anonymous as he is a Railway staff.
The building today looks like a haunted bungalow straight out of a horror flick with broken toilet doors and tall vegetation sprouting from all corners. Big cracks are evident on the walls, while the seats and the stage are in ruins. Residents had protested against the renovation work a few months ago, but work resumed this week after a compromise.
Sources in the Southern Railway admitted that a new building was the need of the hour, lack of funds meant only renovation could be done. “We will fill the cracks with cement and also lay new tiles and seats. Walls will be whitewashed and a false roof will be built,” said a railway official of the Madras division.
Social activist and former resident of the colony, K Ramadoss pointed out that the last renovation was done in 2004. “Despite that, it has failed to be of any use to us. There is hardly any security in the area. RPF personnel are supposed to be in-charge of safeguarding railway property. But you can rarely see them,” he rued.
You can enter the premises from the Konnur High Road. It even has a parking space. “Despite such facilities, Southern Railway has lost out on a good opportunity to earn good money, by leasing it to outsiders all these years,” he added.