TIRUCHY: Even as the revenue department officials have started the land acquisition process to widen service roads for a distance of 14.5 km between Thuvakudi and Palpannai on the Thanjavur-Tiruchy NH, the Federation for the Retrieval of Tiruchy-Palpannai-Thuvakudi Service Roads that has been fighting for the cause for nearly 15 years has urged the authorities to ensure the roads are 45 metres wide in accordance with the order issued by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court instead of the proposed width of 33 metres.
General secretary of the federation K Rajendran told TNIE that in the absence of proper service roads, the stretch has become a hotspot for accidents.
Around 1,500 people have lost their lives in nearly 3,000 accidents on this stretch so far, he alleged. In 2019, the federation filed a case before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in 2019 seeking a direction to authorities to widen the service roads. The court gave a direction that the total width of the service road should be 45 metres (22.5 metres on each side). At bus stops, it should be 50 metres, and at locations where flyovers are proposed, it should be 60 metres.
Citing the order, president of the federation S Subramanian said constructing 33-metre road would amount to contempt of court. He recalled that on July 3, 2025, a meeting was convened to discuss the matter under the leadership of minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, MP Durai Vaiko, officials from the NHAI and corporation councillors. All stakeholders had agreed to abide by the hich court order, Subramanian claimed and alleged that the assurance is not being honoured.
Meanwhile, the indefinite hunger strike spearheaded by S Rajkumar, urban district secretary of the Communist Party of India, entered its fourth day on Thursday. CPI cadres S Ranjithkumar, A Niwas, M Tamilarasan and M Sivakumar are also participating in the protest. They said the hunger strike would not be withdrawn until the service road is laid as per the court order.