The Ex-Servicemen Association submitted a petition to Madurai District Collector P. Akash here on Monday urgently requesting the reconstruction of now-defunct Jawan Bhavan, which has remained closed for the past seven years.According to the association, the Jawan Bhavan, located near the Madurai Railway station, previously served as a vital welfare transit facility.It offered heavily subsidised, low-cost accommodation to retired defense personnel and their families travelling to Madurai from various districts for medical treatments, pension-related grievances, and official purposes.However, due to structural instability and aging infrastructure, the building was declared unsafe and shut down seven years ago.Since its closure, visiting ex-servicemen—many of whom are senior citizens—have been forced to rely on expensive private accommodations, causing them significant financial strain.Speaking on the issue, Mr. Rajagopal, an ex-serviceman from Madurai, emphasised the urgent need for administrative intervention.The association has urged the District Collector to initiate the necessary budgetary allocations and clearing works to construct a modern, newly equipped Jawan Bhavan on the existing site to restore this crucial support system for the veteran community. Published - June 08, 2026 06:45 pm IST