A Vinayagar temple was demolished under tight police security as part of an ongoing road expansion project in Chinnakavanam, near Ponneri in Thiruvallur district, despite strong objections from local residents.
The road widening aims to link Adani Port in Kattupalli (near minjur) to the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway, passing through Pazhaverkadu (Pulicat). As part of the plan, the stretch between Peruvayal and Pazhaverkadu is being expanded, covering areas including Elaimbedu, Chinnakavanam, Medur, and Thirupalaivanam.
Numerous homes in Chinnakavanam have already been cleared to make way for the project. However, when it came to the Vinayagar temple located along the planned route, local residents protested its removal. They had requested that the temple be relocated to a new site with proper compensation before any demolition took place.
Despite the appeals, officials from the Revenue and Highways Department arrived with three bulldozers and began the demolition process under significant police protection to prevent disturbances. Locals, citing the ongoing Aadi festival with 10 days still remaining, pleaded for a postponement, but the authorities declined.
Protesters were detained by the police and held temporarily at a nearby wedding hall. The temple idol was carefully removed before the structure was razed using bulldozers.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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