A row of shops that hug the Jumma Masjid on Kutchery Road, Mylapore are making way for Chennai Metro project, for the underground rail line that starts from the Light House and runs west – to Luz, Alwarpet and further westwards.
An area of about 800 plus sq. feet is to be accquired for the Metro work and the final round of discussions are on between the Waqf Board, which manages all such properties, and Chennai Metro.
Eight shops who pay rent to the Board via the mosque will be demolished, this area being set aside for the entry/exit section of the Metro station.
Says Nazurullah Khan, secretary of the mosque committee, “Talks have been going on for some years now and we had no go but to part with this portion of the mosque land.” A compensation of over Rs.4 crores will be paid by Metro to the Board, going by workings arrived at recently.
Chennai Metro has also asked for a large space that lies at the rear of this mosque to be taken on rent and used as a godown and a parking lot.
The mosque leaders have also been told by senior officials of Chennai Metro that the old mosque will not be affected when underground work is carried out and if there are some cracks, they were be repaired.
A large portion of the TN Police Quarters opposite the mosque has been taken over some time ago.
Shop keepers in this area expect major disruptions between the Arundel Street and mosque section once work starts on the Metro station.
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I live in Porur, but I was very happy to find you (Mylapore Times) on the net.
Local indipendent news outlets are critical for, not just social awareness and interaction but for democracy itself. I commend your work and wish you all the best.