Coimbatore: The city corporation is yet to reconstruct the footbridge that it demolished at Palanisamy Colony near Ponnayarajapuram in the city in September to unclog an outlet channel of Muthannankulam after water flooded houses in the locality.
Following the incessant rainfall, officials had then opened the sluice gates of Muthannankulam to release excess water into the outlet channel. As the channel was filled with debris and water hyacinth, water had flooded 10 houses at Palanisamy Colony.
N Chinnasamy, a resident, says, “Many people, especially women, were using the footbridge to reach their workplace in and around Ponnayarajapuram. It was also the shortest path to the nearest bus stand. If we take alternative paths, we have to travel an additional 2km.”
He says people were forced to cross the canal by walk until a week ago, when the city corporation workers placed wooden slabs across the canal. “More than 1,000 people are crossing the canal daily.”
Vanitha, a commuter who works at Gandhi Park, says, “I will reach the nearest bus stop in less than 10 minutes if I walk through the canal. Otherwise, I have to walk an additional 10 minutes. Cyclists also use this path.”
Pointing out that the city corporation had laid foundation stone for reconstructing the footbridge in January and removed electric poles along the tank bund, she says the construction works were delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Taking the inconvenience caused to the public into consideration, they should ideally have started the work by now. But we don’t know what is stopping them.”
A source with the city corporation says the plan is to widen the footbridge, for which more land is required. “We are in talks with the nearby house owners.”
When contacted, corporation officials said they would commence the work at the earliest.