Tiruchy company slammed for placing Eiffel Tower model on pedestrian path – The New Indian Express

By Express press service

TIRUCHY: The materials kept on the footpaths by traders and vendors often create inconvenience for local residents. Although the company has repeatedly said it will eliminate such encroachments, authorities have yet to take strong action. On Thursday, the civic body drew criticism from several locals when it placed a heavy, 7-foot-tall model of the Eiffel Tower on a pedestrian platform. Residents noticed the base of the model on a pedestrian path and the tower inside an open gymnasium located there.

The workers had also removed some of the tiles from the path to place the model. Since the company is carrying out beautification works on the Anna Nagar Link road, many believed that the Eiffel Tower model was also part of the drive. However, this decision drew more criticism than praise.

Sources said the model was initially kept in the company’s park in Panjappur. Officials avoided commenting on what prompted them to move the model from Panjappur to the Anna Nagar link road.

“I originally thought they were planning to put it inside the open gymnasium. But, they removed the base. They also removed some of the tiles from the walker track. If they plan to install the structure on the pedestrian path, it is an encroachment,” said S Senthilkumar, a resident of Anna Nagar.

With the Eiffel Tower model prompting criticism, senior officials said the company would not install it on the pedestrian walkway.

“It will not be installed on the pedestrian path of the Anna Nagar Link Road. We will move it to another location soon,” a company official said.

S Ravi, a resident who regularly goes to Anna Nagar Link road for a morning walk, said: “It is a very heavy structure and at least one crane is needed to move it to Anna Nagar which is near 14 km from Panjappur. If they hadn’t considered erecting the structure on the footpath here, why did they move it and remove the tiles from the footpath? The company has several places to maintain such a structure. Instead of just any park or open space, why did they bring it to a pedestrian path and a small open gym on the Anna Nagar Link Road?”

In the evening, the company workers moved the base of the tower to the open gymnasium.

TIRUCHY: The materials kept on the footpaths by traders and vendors often create inconvenience for local residents. Although the company has repeatedly said it will eliminate such encroachments, authorities have yet to take strong action. On Thursday, the civic body drew criticism from several locals when it placed a heavy, 7-foot-tall model of the Eiffel Tower on a pedestrian platform. Residents noticed the base of the model on a pedestrian path and the tower inside an open gymnasium located there. The workers had also removed some of the tiles from the path to place the model. Since the company is carrying out beautification works on the Anna Nagar Link road, many believed that the Eiffel Tower model was also part of the drive. However, this decision drew more criticism than praise. Sources said the model was initially kept in the company’s park in Panjappur. Officials avoided commenting on what prompted them to move the model from Panjappur to the Anna Nagar link road. “I originally thought they were planning to put it inside the open gymnasium. But, they removed the base. They also removed some of the tiles from the walker track. If they plan to install the structure on the pedestrian path, it is an encroachment,” said S Senthilkumar, a resident of Anna Nagar. With the Eiffel Tower model prompting criticism, senior officials said the company would not install it on the pedestrian walkway. “It will not be installed on the pedestrian path of the Anna Nagar Link Road. We will move it to another location soon,” a company official said. S Ravi, a resident who regularly goes to Anna Nagar Link road for a morning walk, said: “It is a very heavy structure and at least one crane is needed to move it to Anna Nagar which is near 14 km from Panjappur. If they hadn’t considered erecting the structure on the footpath here, why did they move it and remove the tiles from the footpath? The company has several places to maintain such a structure. Instead of choosing any park or open space, why did they bring it to a pedestrian path and a small open gym on the Anna Nagar link road?” In the evening, the company workers moved the base of the tower to the open gymnasium.