On 2 April 2025, the Chennai Corporation officials sealed off the construction site at Our Lady of Visitation Church in Abiramapuram, on St. Mary’s Road, and posted a notice halting the ongoing work with a stop-work order.
The development, part of the church’s expansion, is said to be encroaching on public space near the boundary wall. Neither the parish priest nor the leaders of the church council have commented on the matter, possibly due to its connection with the ongoing tensions between the residents of a neighboring colony and the Madras-Mylapore diocese.
The land on which the colony sits is said to be owned by the diocese, and a lengthy legal dispute has been underway. The residents of the colony, which houses over 40 families, lost the primary legal case, resulting in some families vacating their homes.This situation has caused friction between the church council, the diocese, and the local residents, many of whom are also members of the church.
The construction at the center of the controversy was part of a major project to build a grotto and bell tower to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the church’s new premises. However, the project has faced significant delays.
When approached, Titus, a senior member of the church council, refused to discuss the issue and requested that Mylapore Times refrain from reporting it. The parish priest, who has recently taken over the position, mentioned that he is not fully informed about the situation.
(With inputs from Mylapore Times)
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