Srirangam gets the much-needed connectivity
Srirangam, a picturesque island formed by the
bifurcation of the Cauvery, is described as a paradise on earth. When
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced her decision to contest from
Srirangam constituency in the last Assembly elections, it created much
hope not only among the residents of this island town, but also of the
entire district.
The Chief Minister has not failed
them and keeping with her campaign promises, Ms. Jayalalithaa announced a
slew of projects and schemes for the town. The temple town, languishing
for a long time despite being a heritage site, has come in for special
attention and the implementation of various development works worth
several crores of rupees has brought much delight to all sections of
society. Significant among the programmes implemented is the
introduction of bus services to various parts of not only Tamil Nadu,
but also to cities such as Bangalore, Tirupati, and Tiruvananthapuram.
The
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has introduced long
distance buses to Rameswaram, Palani, Sriperumpudur, Srivilliputhur,
Srimushnam, Madurai, Oppiliappankoil, Villupuram, Thanjavur, and
Kumbakonam from Srirangam, and ago. The State Express Transport
Corporation is operating services to Chennai, Bangalore,
Tiruvananthapuram, and Tirupati. While for the destinations like
Bangalore, Tiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Rameswaram, Palani,
Sriperumpudur, and Srivilliputhur, one service is being operated from
Srirangam a day, for Chennai, Madurai, Srimushnam, Villupuram,
Uppilappankovil, Kumbakonam, and so on two services are operated a day
and for Thanjavur it is four services a day.
According
to TNSTC sources, buses for more destinations are expected to be
introduced in the near future and the people are happy that this town
will become the third bus terminus in the city after the Central Bus
Stand and the Chathiram Bus Stand.
Despite being the
abode of Lord Sri Ranganatha, which attracts huge floating population
from throughout the world round the year, it is a pity that the town
does not have a bus stand. The buses leaving Srirangam and arriving here
are parked some distance away from the Rajagopuram, thereby causing
disturbance to the residents. The Tiruchirapalli City Corporation in the
last year’s budget allocated Rs. 9 crore for the construction of a bus
stand in Srirangam. The corporation is eyeing a site near Panchakarai on
the Coleroon river bank, close to site where a yatri nivas is under
construction at a cost of Rs. 36.40 crore, for setting up the bus stand.
But a decision is still awaited. The yatri nivas will come up on an
eight-acre land belonging to the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.
Another major facility concerning transport department to come up in
Srirangam is the construction of own building to house the Srirangam
Regional Transport Office (RTO). Ever since the Srirangam RTO was
established 12 years ago, it has been functioning in a rented building.
The State government has already sanctioned funds to the tune of Rs.2
crore for construction of an own building. The department has identified
sites belonging to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
Department at Kondayampettai and Y corner areas near Thiruvanaikoil for
the project.
Presently, the Srirangam RTO has under
its jurisdiction a unit office at Thuraiyur and would soon have under
its control a new unit office at Musiri which has been sanctioned by the
State government. The department has also decided to set up an office
of the General Manager of the State Express Transport Corporation at
Srirangam and this will enable in getting buses to more destinations
apart from facilities like advance booking.
Another
major complaint of the local residents as well as the devotees is the
absence of parking lot for the tourist vehicles. The entire traffic
system in the town gets choked with the haphazard parking of tourist
vehicles on the road sides during the festival days.
Srirangam is literally bursting at the seams of late with numerous housing apartments and increase in the strength of vehicles.
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