Driving on the 12-km stretch on Palakkad Road, from Madukkarai to Walayar, is an ordeal for the road users. The damaged road, narrow stretches, and lack of bitumen-topped road in some places make travelling a nightmare for those who commute on the road.
“The road is full of pits. After the rains, the potholes were filled with water. Since the road did not have bitumen topping in several places and with heavy traffic of trucks, dust made it difficult to drive through the stretch,” says M. Ashok, who drove down from Coimbatore to Palakkad last week.
An official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told The Hindu on Tuesday that it has taken up works on the road on a war-footing.
The private company that has taken up widening works on the road would complete in 10 to 15 days, with concrete patchwork, filling up of earth material, and bitumen topping where it is feasible.
It will not be possible to do bitumen topping if it rains and hence it has been decided to go in for concrete patchwork in some places. The focus is on the diversion roads as these have been badly damaged by the rain. These will be strengthened.
The total cost is expected to be about Rs. 60 lakh. The widening works (making the road into four lane) would also commence and would be completed in eight months.
There would not be any diversion for the temporary repair works.
