The Hindu 31.12.2010
Road-repair works in city progressing at a snail's pace
Staff Reporter
| Many arterial and side roads are in a dilapidated condition |
‘Poor roads leading to stress among bus drivers'
Both PWD and the corporation have not constituted a mobile patch-work unit so far
KOCHI: Road-repair works in many stretches in the city and suburbs are progressing very slowly, despite the rains stopping over a fortnight ago.
Bus operators had to threaten a boycott of the private bus stand in Kaloor on Wednesday (December 29), to coerce civic agencies to repair the severely-potholed road leading to the stand.
While the Corporation of Cochin filled potholes at the stand within a day, many other arterial and side roads in the city maintained by the civic body and the PWD are in a dilapidated state. “Bus crew and passengers are being put to severe discomfort and many of them are encountering health problems, because of travelling through potholed roads. It also adds to the stress of drivers. Buses are suffering extensive damage because of the frequent breakage of axle and leaf springs,” said K. A. Makkarkunju, the president of Ernakulam District Private Bus Operators' Association.
Repairs are yet to be carried out in the severely-potholed Old Thevara Road, Kacheripady-Chitoor Road, Valanjambalam-Ravipuram Road, many portions of the Palarivattom-Kakkanad Road, Kakkanad-Pallikkara Road, portions of MG Road, the High Court-Maharaja's College stretch, the Rajaji Road-KSRTC bus stand stretch, Foreshore Road, and Church Landing Road. Most of these roads are owned by the PWD. The kerb of junctions along the SA Road have not been raised and tarred by the corporation, thus causing traffic hold ups.
Inferior quality
Most side roads too are in bad shape, mainly because of the inferior quality of work done and improper supervision by corporation and PWD engineers. Water does not seep into the drains from many roads. Both the agencies have not constituted a mobile patch-work unit, despite promises made years ago. Such a unit would have been able to repair potholes as and when they develop, preventing accidents and traffic hold ups caused by bad roads.
