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`Trio' of the Temple City
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For those who can afford, the comparatively new residential areas on the West of Bypass Road make for a blissful living, says M.R. ARAVINDAN after a visit.
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On the path to a three-way option
VANAMAMALAI NAGAR, Duraisamy Nagar and Velmurugan Nagar - the `trio' are fairly new entrants to Temple City's landscape.
In a matter of two decades, these residential areas have established themselves with high credentials. Mainly due to the efforts of the residents.
By the Bypass Road in South-West Madurai, the area was predominantly agricultural land fed by the Madakulam Tank.
In 1984, the first construction started in Vanamamalai Nagar. Two years later Duraisamy Nagar followed suit and a couple of years later, Velmurugan Nagar took shape. Today, all three boast of well-designed posh houses, a neat road lay-out, crime free zones, parks and much more. Long-time resident and a founder member of the Vanamamalai Nagar Residents' Welfare Association, M. Jaganathan says with pride: "The residents' welfare associations are very active in all these Nagars. Each area has a proper mechanism for garbage disposal, maintenance of greenbelt along roadsides. Surveillance of the area is also superior with night patrolling teams formed by the residents." Such measures are laudatory and help to enhance the image of any area.
Enter these colonies to find the roads clean and filled with shade giving trees and also bereft of anti-socials given the round-the-clock vigil. Recreation parks with adequate playing equipment and courts both for children and adults is another highlight of this place.
Invariably these services come for a price. A monthly fee of Rs.50 is charged from every resident, who are in return able to spend their time not only with much pleasure and fun but most importantly, in peace.
Cultural events
The respective residents' associations also do not hesitate to display their member's talents. Occasions like New Year Day, Independence Day and Republic Day are never given a miss with each association picking up a particular date for organising cultural and sports events and entertainment programmes. This way, there is no duplication of efforts or clash of events and interests. Rather, there is a big attendance for each area's function as the crowd does not get divided. On the real estate development side, Duraisamy Nagar and Velmurugan Nagar have fallen into the net of flat culture. Three apartments blocks have come up in Duraisamy Nagar and five more in Velmurugan Nagar. Two bedroom flats are sold here between Rs. eight lakhs to 11 lakhs while the rent varies from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000 a month.
Locationwise, the triple localities are at an advantageous position. The Bypass Road holds a good number of departmental stores, hospitals, food houses and other establishments. Most families residing here are owners of some vehicles and really do not bother much about the road connectivity to other places, as one found. With every good thing, there has to be a share of the "not-so-good" too.
While Madurai Corporation wins a pat from the residents for street light maintenance, it draws flak for ill timed work like the ongoing drainage work. "They can at least level the stretches in those places where the pipe laying works are over. But no, they have left heaps of mud and sand in the middle of roads and when it rains, the situation is pathetic. It becomes a cross-country race track," jokes T. Raja, a Vanamamalai resident.
While every house has a tap connection, they remain dry. The Corporation has made an alternate arrangement to supply water weekly through tankers. But the supply falls much below the requirement. "This is not a remedy," laments Mr. Krishnamoorthy, secretary of the Vanamamalai Nagar Association.
Echoes the Duraisamy Nagar Residents' Welfare Association President, Mr.Vanangamudi, "The ground water table has depleted after borewells were sunk in Madakulam tank. Earlier we were getting water even at 40-50 feet."
Common entry
A common entry -- the road between the Sharadambal Temple and the Garden Meenakshi Bhavan hotel -- is the only approach road for the three areas, which is both a plus (from safety point of view) and minus (can cause vehicle jams) point. Despite the ad hoc problems, the peace and the overall cleanliness of the area, makes the residents a contented lot.
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