Homebound residents are waylaid when match is on in this Muvattupuzha stadium

Muvattupuzha: On days when the Chirappady Stadium in Aanikkad hosts sporting events, families in the neighbourhood must wait until the match ends to return home. For ,the path to their houses passes directly through the stadium. If they attempt to walk while the game is underway, they risk being hit by balls and sustaining injuries. Otherwise, players are forced to stop the game and wait for pedestrians to pass.

Nearly 50 families depend on this passage through the Chirappady Stadium. Both young and elderly residents have to dodge rushing players and flying balls during football and cricket matches. Vehicles, four-wheelers, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers , also pass through the stadium. Sporting events are frequently disrupted when local residents cross, and while many have been struck by balls, serious injuries have narrowly been avoided.

Although there is a path along the left side of the stadium, it remains abandoned and taken over by a bamboo forest, shrubs and wild growth. During the tenure of former MLA Joseph Vazhakkan, funds were allotted and work was initiated to surface the road and make it motorable.

However, the project was stalled midway. Despite repeated complaints from local residents, no favourable action has been taken so far. They now demand that the unused road be repaired and made motorable to prevent disruption of sporting events and to ensure the safety of passers-by.