Kerala - Kochi   

A harrowing ride for motorists

KOCHI: Deep potholes on the roads following the monsoon showers have caused many roads in the city to become unmotorable.

Apart from causing long traffic hold ups and accidents, this has made commuting a harrowing experience in the city and suburbs. Particularly bad is the plight of pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, who have to wade through filth and slush. They also get drenched in dirty water splashed by vehicles falling into potholes. With the Corporation of Kochi, the PWD and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) not stepping in, residents’ associations, the traffic police and autorickshaw drivers filled some of the potholes with concrete.

Gaping potholes have developed even along the Vytilla-Edapally NH bypass, the national highways passing through Kochi and most arterial roads maintained by the PWD and the Corporation. The pathetic plight of the Sahodaran Aiyyappan Road and the Chitoor Road has been attributed to the Corporation’s apathy in repairing badly-damaged portions in the two crucial stretches during summer months. The South overbridge too is in a bad shape.

Huge traffic hold ups have become the norm in Kaloor, because of the PWD’s delay in repairing a drain at the junction. The department began repair works much after the rains began and by then, the road suffered extensive damage. Potholes have formed even on the recently-repaired stretch in front of the Government Guest House and Broadway. The workload of the traffic-police has increased manifold, because of roads turning unmotorable. “We have been forced to post four officers each on either side of the overbridges at Ernakulam South and North ,” said K. B. Venugopal, the ACP, Traffic Police. Aimed at hastening road-repair works, the police has handed over a list of potholes to the Corporation and the PWD, he said.

With the Corporation yet to constitute a mobile road-repair unit, the district-level road safety council had taken a decision a month ago to set up one such unit to repair potholes as and when they develop. “A recommendation has been sent to the Transport Commissioner and we have sought funds for the purpose,” said District Collector M. Beena. “Only roads built with at least a five-year guarantee will last. At least the city’s lifelines have to be maintained in motorable condition,” she said.

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