Former Ministers P. Valarmathi and ‘Agri’ S.S. Krishnamurthy along with party cadre holding a demonstration, demanding reinstatement of C.N. Annadurai’s statue in Tiruvannamalai.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The State Highways Department said that former Chief Minister and DMK stalwart C.N. Annadurai’s statue near Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai town will be reinstated at its original spot after the completion of storm water drain widening work on the stretch.
Officials said that the existing narrow drains on Anna Salai, between Tiruvannamalai Taluk office and the temple, a distance of around 600 metres, were built during the 1970s.
Drain work
The drain work is being carried out by the Highways Department at a cost of ₹3 crore.
Old drains on the stretch have been demolished to construct new wide drains. “The New drains will help to discharge excess rainwater from Arunachala Hills during monsoon. It will help to prevent inundation of the temple town. The entire work will be completed before the Karthigai Deepam festival (December 4),” S. Anbarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways, told The Hindu.
It comes after the AIADMK cadre noted the sudden disappearance of a bronze statue and plaque on September 25. Subsequently, AIADMK party functionaries lodged a complaint with local police. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami also announced a protest in Tiruvannamalai town on Friday against the missing DMK leader statue.
Highway officials said the statue was relocated safely to the local PWD office after the brick pedestal and steel mesh around the statue were damaged. As the new drain work could further damage the dilapidated structure, the statue and plaque were shifted. The statue will be reinstated in a grandeur manner once the drain work is done.
Highway officials said that new drains on key stretches in the town are done by them whereas Corporation undertakes new drains, mostly in streets.
As per plan, the new widened drain will be eight feet wide and five feet in depth to discharge excess rainwater.
The stretch (Anna Salai) will also be widened from its existing 7 metres width to 10.5 metres. Two 110 KV transformers and at least 10 electrical poles will be relocated.
Around 20 shops on the stretch will be razed as part of the work.
Meanwhile, along with functionaries and party cadre, former AIADMK Ministers P. Valarmathi and ‘Agri’ S.S. Krishnamurthy held a demonstration near the statue, demanding immediate reinstatement of it.
Published – October 04, 2025 06:15 am IST
