The report from the State was sought by a Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel, which was hearing a petition filed by Swamimalai Sundara Vimalanathan of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district.
There was a bridge connecting Mela Ramanallur to Ariyalur. However, there was no bridge connecting Kudikadu to Ramanallur islet even though the foundation was laid in 2017. The works had not yet commenced, the petitioner said.
He said school and college students from Mela Ramanallur were affected by the absence of the bridge. They had to use circuitous routes to reach their educational institutions and this caused a loss of valuable time. The problem was not confined to students alone.
Elderly persons, women, children, differently abled persons and other vulnerable groups residing in the village were compelled to take longer routes. Thanjavur Medical College Hospital was located within 20 km. However, the absence of the bridge resulted in a substantial delay in reaching the hospital and caused severe hardship to the people, he added.
The proposed bridge would help agricultural produce from 27 villages around Ramanallur reach Kumbakonam and Thanjavur markets, he said and sought a direction to the authorities to complete the bridge construction. The court adjourned the hearing in the case till October 7.