When a letter paved the way for a road

For class VIII students of Panchayat Union Middle School at Thiruppanamoor, their letter to the Collector paved way for a new tar road. It also led to their effort being etched forever.

Last week, Collector K. S. Kandasamy along with the school students inaugurated a newly laid road in Karanthai village in Vembakkam panchayat union. To their surprise, the Collector ensured that the credit for the new road went to them by engraving it on the plaque.

It was during the first week of March that the Collector received a letter from the Class VIII students of the school. “They wrote to him that they had to walk on a mud road along the banks of a large waterbody. During rains, it turned slushy putting them to hardship. They requested him to take measures to lay a road,” Mr. Kandasamy said.

Road laid in 15 days

He added that this was an 800-metre-long stretch. “The children wrote a letter to the Collector in the belief that something will be done. I wanted to encourage them and showcase their effort to the world. It took 15 days for the Rural Development Department to lay the road,” he said.

A few days ago, the Collector visited the village and he along with the students inaugurated the new road. “They were very excited. We unveiled a plaque and I asked one of the students to read what was engraved on it. When the student read that this road was laid based on a request from class VIII students, all of them were very happy,” he added. In fact, the Collector along with a few students went on a bicycle ride on the new road.

The road was laid at a cost of ₹15.23 lakh from Karanthai to ADC, a press release said.