Villagers object to plan to build a bus shelter near the TASMAC exit

DRDA officials inspected land near the TAMSAC exit where the bus shelter will be built. |Picture source: Special arrangement

Here, residents of the village of Ulli near the town of Goodiasen oppose the move to build a bus shelter near the TASMAC exit.

Residents said since the project inspected the project a few months ago, residents said the safety of commuters, especially women, will be compromised, and they have been opposing the proposal.

“Most commuters come back from get off work in the evening. Women will find boarding the bus near the Tasmack exit…” said commuter K. Hema.

Currently, Ulli Village includes 9 wards. On average, each bus stop here is located about a kilometre between each other. DRDA officials said the proposed bus shelter will help people from Athorampatti and reach key towns such as Gudiyatham, Pernambut, Ambur, Madhanur, Madhanur and Odugathur in the small village adjacent to the village.

Earlier, efforts were made to identify land in small villages to build shelters. DRDA officials said that since there was no available government land, land near the TASMAC export was chosen.

The new shelter will be built at the cost of Rs 1.1 lakh for the Mplad Fund of Vellore MP.

The villagers further stated that they had submitted petitions to the DRDA and Block Development offices to build shelters in Indira Nagar instead of the proposed site. This alternative location is recommended because it does not have any bus shelter, and up to five adjoining small villages will benefit from the move.

Despite suggesting alternative locations, officials continued to develop initial plans and began preliminary work, including laying the foundations to build a shelter near the Tasmack exit, residents believe.

“We have raised objections to the regional government. Collector VR Subbulaxmi must make a decision,” said a DRDA official.