Poor roads and garbage trouble St Thomas Mount shrine visitors

Chennai: Perched atop a small hill is the St Thomas Mount Shrine — a revered Christian pilgrimage site. Yet, the approach roads leading to its foothills remain in poor condition. Pilgrims and visitors are greeted by damaged stretches, inadequate lighting and piles of litter.The belief is that the hill is where St Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, was martyred in 72 AD after being struck by a spear. In 1523, Portuguese missionary Diego Fernandes built a small oratory on the mount, over the foundations of an earlier church.Despite its historical and religious significance, the 4.7-km-long trip to the shrine from Alandur Metro station through Butt Road and Kalaignar Nagar, often takes nearly 40 minutes because of the poor road condition.When TOI visited the area, large pothole, and uneven surfaces were seen along the stretch. Motorists said the potholes were large enough to puncture vehicle tyres, especially on the steep stretches leading up the hill. The presence of stray cattle and dogs added to the difficulty for motorists. Antony Devasirvatham, secretary of the Kalaignar Nagar residents' welfare association, said traffic and parking issues worsened the situation during weekends. "During weekends, thousands of vehicles pass through the road to reach the shrine. At least 200 vehicles are parked illegally along the road, and there is no regulation from the block development officers (BDO) to curb the parking menace," he said.Garbage dumping along the road is another major concern. Residents said vegetable waste, meat waste and other rubbish were frequently dumped along the roadside, creating an unhygienic environment.Antony added that garbage management in the area also needs immediate attention. "At least 50 stray cattle and many aggressive dogs chase the vehicles. BDOs should inspect the area and ensure that garbage is cleared regularly," he said. Despite repeated attempts, St Thomas Mount BDO Nirmal Kumar remained unavailable for comment.