A group of cadre of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and members of residents welfare associations was detained by the police after it attempted to stage a road blockade at Kattur on Monday demanding the expeditious construction of service roads along the city stretch of the Tiruchi-Thanjavur National Highway.
The protesters condemned the delay in building the service roads between Palpannai and Thuvakudi on the highway and called for swift land acquisition and execution of the project.
The protesters condemned the move to reduce the width of the service roads to 33 metres and called upon the Highways department to withdraw its affidavit filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently in this regard. They demanded that the service roads be built to a width of 45 metres as per a 2019 directive of the High Court.
Members of the residents’ welfare organisations participated in the protest called by the CPI(M). The protest was led by M. Manimaran, Kattur Area Secretary of the party. Govi. Vettriselvam, CPI(M) urban district secretary, and R. Raja, Member, District Executive Committee of the party, participated.
The police said about 35 persons were taken into custody after they squatted on the road. They were let off in the evening.
Published – March 17, 2025 06:56 pm IST