The Aralvaimozhi–Nedumangadu road connects several hill villages, and heavy vehicles operate on it, so the road remains busy with traffic. It is also the main route to Boothapandi, the headquarters of Thovalai Taluk, and connects various tourist and religious destinations in Kanyakumari district.
In this situation, bullock cart races are frequently conducted on the section from Aralvaimozhi to Senbagaramanputhur. As a result, traffic on the road is disrupted for several hours and diverted to alternative routes. This makes it difficult to reach numerous villages including Vedhanthiri Nagar, Mission Compound, Kirubai Nagar, Christhu Nagar and Thanumalayanputhur under Aralvaimozhi Town Panchayat, and Samathuvapuram, Nesavalar Colony and Indira Nagar under Senbagaramanputhur Panchayat. In addition, buses operating on this route are stopped, causing considerable hardship to passengers.
Patients travelling to Senbagaramanputhur Government Hospital are severely affected, while tourists are unable to reach places including Poigai Dam. People returning home from work, school and college students, people in poor health travelling for treatment, farmers travelling to agricultural fields and persons with disabilities are among those seriously affected. Residents, women, elderly people and children also face the risk of accidents from charging bulls.
During bullock cart races, vehicles travelling on this road have to travel several additional kilometres. This causes time loss, fuel loss and damage to vehicle parts, among other difficulties. To avoid this, the races could be conducted on the Senbagaramanputhur–Olavayyar Amman Temple Road. Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam has urged that bullock cart races conducted on the Aralvaimozhi–Senbagaramanputhur route, which cause hardship to traffic and the public, be prohibited.
In this connection, under the leadership of General Secretary A.S. Sankarapandian, Headquarters Secretary S. Raj, State Secretary of the Information Technology Wing E. Suresh, Southern Zone Secretary Gnaalam T. Jegadheesh, Southern Zone Organising Secretary Dr. S. Nagarajan, Kumarikott Secretary M. Alex Moses, Kanyakumari District Coordinator P. Chandra, Kanyakumari (East) District President T. Kuzhandaichamy, Secretary R. Sarabhai, Organising Secretary CV. Murugan, Treasurer Pon. Mariyammal, Deputy Secretary Y. Rahul, Thovalai Union Women’s Wing Secretary S. Kokila, Aralvaimozhi Town President D. Sagaya Britto and other office-bearers met the Kanyakumari District Collector and submitted a petition.
Headquarters,
Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam.
