Nellithope AIADMK MLA Om Sakthi Sekar, along with his supporters, on Monday resorted to a road blockade on Kamaraj Salai to protest against the delay by the Public Works Department in widening the Saram Bridge.
Mr. Sekar said the PWD (Buildings and Roads Division) commenced the project at an estimate of Rs. 1.11 crore in 2013 in a bid to reduce frequent road accidents on the Saram Bridge.
However, the inordinate delay in completing the project had been causing hardship to the residents. Though repeated representations were made to the authorities concerned, no action was taken, he said.
On information, police and PWD officials rushed to the spot and pacified the MLA.
However, Mr. Sekar refused to budge unless an assurance to expedite the works was given by the PWD officials.
The MLA withdrew the protest after senior PWD officials assured to commence the widening work after Pongal. Later speaking to reporters, Mr. Sekar said that the Puducherry government was facing a severe financial crisis which had started affecting several development works with the PWD sanctioned during the previous years.
He said that allocation for many projects in Nellithope had been cut short and contractors feared taking up any work with the PWD.
Mr. Sekar said that he would intensify his agitation if the PWD delayed the works further.
