Crowded ‘reading park' forces aspirants back to corpn campus
Dubbed 'reading park' by students, the centre was inaugurated by ministers P Moorthy and P T R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, and built at a cost of ₹75 lakh, jointly funded by Namakku Naame Thittam (₹45 lakh) and MPLAD fund (₹30 lakh) of Lok Sabha MP Su Venkatesan.
Located on Dr Thangaraj Salai near World Tamil Sangam, the open-air facility with sheds was laid out using tiles and paver blocks made by inmates of Madurai central prison.
But the space is no longer enough. On Friday alone, more than 480 aspirants arrived by noon, with the first one checking in as early as 3.47am. Officials at the centre said around 800 students access it daily, with the facility open till 11pm.
Lack of space has pushed over 250 aspirants back to the Madurai corporation campus nearby, where they sit on the floor throughout the day. "The study centre is a recent one. People have been preparing from the corporation campus for ages.
by Taboola
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Many of those working in the corporation building today started off studying in the campus like us," said aspirant Ravi Kumar from Arapalayam.
Many of them seek quieter or alternative places to study. B Gowtham from Melur prefers the Madurai corporation eco park half a kilometre away. "I go to the study centre only after 8pm when the crowd thins. The silence in the park helps me focus," he said. Sharmila K said she reads aloud while studying, which isn't possible at the crowded centre.
Aspirants pay Rs5 daily to access the eco park.
For others, basic amenities are an issue. "It's a 15-minute walk to the nearest accessible wash room in the corporation, and that too closes by 5pm," said Rubitha A from Thathampatti village. Su Venkatesan, MP, told TOI that plans are underway for a second study park in south Madurai. "We're identifying a location within city limits to benefit more aspirants," he said. This apart, steps are underway to create a dedicated study centre for persons with disabilities, he added.
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