Lack of road connectivity forces Kuttaiyur villagers depend on Karnataka

The residents of Kuttaiyur, a remote hamlet on the Tamil Nadu–Karnataka border, continue to depend on Karnataka for their daily needs due to the absence of road connectivity and a bridge across a forest stream.

Villagers say the issue can be resolved only if a bridge is built and bus services are extended from the nearest habitation to their village.

Kuttaiyur, with about 450 residents, comes under the Bargur panchayat in Anthiyur taluk, while Makkampalayam falls under the Koothampalayam panchayat in Sathyamangalam taluk. Bus services from Kadambur operate only up to Makkampalayam, located 5 k.m. away. Villagers and students rely on a pickup van from Karnataka to reach Makkampalayam.

The forest road is narrow and gravel-strewn, crossing a stream that often carries water. During the rains, the vehicle from Karnataka avoids Kuttaiyur and proceeds directly to Makkampalayam. Students then miss school and workers stay home.

“This happens every year from October to January,” said a Class 9 student. “All we need is a road, a bridge across the stream, and a bus service to our village,” the student added.

As commuting to Makkampalayam is difficult, villagers cross the Palar river to reach Jallipalayam in Karnataka, about 2 km away, to buy essentials and access medical care.

“We depend on Karnataka for everything except schooling,” said a resident. During the monsoon, when the river overflows, the village remains completely cut off. “We’ve depended on Karnataka for years. It must change, at least for our children,” another villager said.

During elections, officials from Anthiyur travel 83 km to reach the Government Tribal Residential Middle School, which serves as the polling booth. Poll materials are transported through Karnataka — 54 k.m. via Bargur Hills to Kargekandi in Chamarajanagar district, then 24 k.m. to Jallipalayam before crossing the border into Tamil Nadu to reach Kuttaiyur.

Students study up to Class 8 in the village, travel to Makkampalayam for Classes 9 and 10, and to Kadambur for higher secondary education. Villagers are charged ₹20 per trip, while students pay ₹10 to reach Makkampalayam. They said they often miss classes and examinations during the rainy season due to a lack of transport, and urged the government to provide road connectivity.

Anthiyur MLA A.G. Venkatachalam told The Hindu that proposals for constructing a bridge across the forest stream and for laying a road, both at a cost of ₹6.5 crore, have been submitted to the government. “A proposal for a bridge near Velampatti at a cost of ₹ 7 crore is also under consideration. Once completed, connectivity issues in border villages will be resolved,” he said.