Tirunelveli MP C. Robert Bruce submitting a memorandum to Finance Minister Maria Wilson recently in Chennai.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government to allocate ₹125 crore for the construction of rail overbridge at Kulavanigarpuram manned level crossing on the Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur section. The level crossing is closed 16 times a day and causes severe traffic snarl and untold hardship to the public.In a memorandum submitted to Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Maria Wilson recently, Mr. Robert Bruce said the Kulavanigarpuram manned level crossing near Palayamkottai Central Prison on the busy Thiruvananthapuram Highway is closed 16 times a day causing severe traffic jam along this road for more than a kilometre every time.As vehicles, including ambulances rushing patients to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, get trapped in this traffic snarl every time, at least 15 minutes are required for normalcy to return, which poses serious threat to critically ill patients.After repeated appeals from the public, the Tamil Nadu Government decided to construct ‘Y’-shaped rail overbridge at this manned level crossing as the vehicles coming from Palayamkottai bus-stand have to take two major roads on the other side (southern side) of the railway crossing – Thiruvananthapuram Road or Ambasamudram Road. The project cost was estimated at ₹125 crore.Even though this project was announced by the then Chief Minister M. K. Stalin in September 2022 and with land acquisition almost completed, there is no sign of allocation of funds till date. Hence, Mr. Robert Bruce met Mr. Maria Wilson seeking funds for this much-awaited project that will hugely benefit the public.The MP also urged the Minister to allot funds for repairing the Mathikettaan Channel in Chittar Basin in Tenkasi district. He said the Mathikettaan Channel, which was executed by the then Chief Minister K. Kamaraj for benefiting over 1,000 acres, feeds water to 16 irrigation tanks including Naagalkulam, Kadambankulam, Samapaththukulam, Kovilooththu, Poolaankulam, Andipattikulam and Karumbanurkulam.As the successive governments miserably failed to maintain or repair the Mathikettaan Channel, the irrigation structure is now in the worst shape denying water for farmers having their lands under these irrigation tanks.Even though the repairing of Mathikettaan Channel can be completed at the cost of just ₹1.05 crore, no one is interested in saving these poor farmers. Hence, the Tamil Nadu Government should allocate funds under the special initiatives to enliven the lives of the poor agriculturists of this region, Mr. Robert Bruce said.He appealed to the Minister to release funds for re-laying the 15 Km-long road connecting Kadayam and Ramanadhi Dam and upgrading the Kaariyandi Government High School into Government Higher Secondary School by constructing additional classrooms and creating other allied facilities Published - June 03, 2026 06:26 pm IST
