COIMBATORE: Residents of Sivalingapuram in Ondipudur besieged the Coimbatore Corporation’s east zone office in Singanallur on Monday, demanding construction of a railway overbridge (ROB) at the level crossing no. 3 at Surya Nagar.The residents said a govt order sanctioning the overbridge in Ward 56 was issued on Dec 7, 2011. The corporation passed a resolution on June 1, 2012, handing the road over to the highways department, but cancelled it on April 25, 2013.Following a petition by the residents’ welfare association, the corporation, acting on a high court direction, revoked its subway proposal and passed a fresh resolution for the flyover on June 12, 2019. Though soil tests and land surveys were completed, construction did not begin.The association said it had held protests since 2014. At a public consultation held on Sept 25, 2025, around 400 residents reiterated their demand. They alleged that the delay had caused severe hardship.Residents sought relocation of the ongoing underground drainage work at the proposed bridge site, warning that it could further delay construction. They said encroachments had reduced a 40-foot road to 16 feet and demanded their removal.As officials were late to arrive, residents continued their protest. East zone officials later held talks with association representatives. They demanded that work begin immediately and that the sewer alignment be shifted. The official assured them that corporation engineers would inspect the site and make further decisions.Following the assurance, the residents ended their protest.
