Police say yes to removal of Sivaji statue from junction

CHENNAI: The Chennai police on Tuesday told the Madras high court they are in favour of shifting the statute of Sivaji Ganesan located at the junction of Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road) and R K Salai to the Marina beachfront to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
In a counter-affidavit filed in response to a petition seeking removal of the statue, assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Mylapore, K Soundararajan said the eight-foot bronze statue obstructed the view for motorists.“There’s a chance of motorists taking the right turn to Santhome High Road from R K Salai colliding with motorists taking the right turn to R K Salai from Kamarajar Salai as the statue obstructs the view from both directions,” Soundararajan said.
He said the statue also prevented motorists from seeing pedestrians on the zebra crossing on the northern side of the statue. There have been 12 accidents, including a fatal one, in 2012, and eight accidents this year at the junction, he said. “Motorists will get more space and be safer if the statue is removed,” he said.
The statue was unveiled on July 21, 2006, on the occasion of the thespian’s fifth death anniversary by the then chief minister M Karunanidhi. The original petition seeking its removal was filed by P N Srinivas. Following his death, his son P Nagarajan pursued the matter. In October this year, the high court directed the traffic police to file a reply.
Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Samooha Nala Sanga Peravai, a society registered under the TN Societies Registration Act, filed a petition on Tuesday, opposing the demand to remove the statue and seeking to be impleaded as a party in the case. The first bench posted the matter to December 13.
A few days back, the Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Iyakkunargal Sangam (directors’ association) had appealed to the police commissioner not to remove the statue. K Chandrasekaran, president of Sivaji Fans Club, said: “Sivaji fans in the state are in a shock. It is the only statue of Sivaji in the city.” During the previous AIADMK regime, 12 grounds of land was allotted in Adyar to build a memorial for Sivaji Ganesan. “The film artists’ association was supposed to build the memorial. But nothing has happened. So the statue is the only memorial,” Chandrasekaran said.