Space under Edamalaipatti Pudur bridge turns into dumping ground

The area below the Crawford-Edamalaipatti Pudur flyover in Tiruchi has become an eyesore as solid waste continues to pile up on the traffic islands.

The area below the Crawford-Edamalaipatti Pudur flyover has become an eyesore as solid waste continues to pile up on the traffic islands.

The bridge links two major residential neighbourhoods and weekly shandy markets are held along the roads on the Edamalaipatti Pudur side, which add to the solid waste generation.

Recent civic works related to underground drainage and road widening have left the service lanes on either side of the bridge in disrepair. Railings meant to provide safety to those using the islands, have become bent and uprooted in parts, becoming a hazard.

“A section of the under bridge is used to park old two-wheelers. The structure is poorly lit and has become a gathering spot for anti-social elements after dark,” said a long-time resident of Edamalaipatti Pudur.

Despite the presence of health centres and a police station in the vicinity, discarded material piled up in the under bridge’s sections and scrap merchants are using the space to keep their stock. The overgrown vegetation has made the space out of bounds for the people.

Some residents said conservancy workers segregate the waste collected from the neighbourhoods on the traffic island and burn it at night. “Recently, a section of the Crawford underbridge was cleared by a group and converted into a volley ball court. The Edamalaipatti Pudur section could be converted into a children’s playground. Since the area will soon be linked to Panjappur as a major entry point into Tiruchi, keeping it clean and green will make a positive visual impact,” said an environmentalist in the area.

A senior official of the Tiruchi Corporation told The Hindu that the empty space below the flyovers at Edamalaipatti Pudur and Mannarpuram would be taken up for redevelopment and beautification through the Namakku Naame Thittam this year. “We have some takers for Mannarpuram, and are now in the process of finalising players for the Edamalaipatti Pudur underbridge. We are considering the inauguration of a street park for children in these areas,” the official said.