The nearly one-km-long Marottichuvadu-Paruthelipaalam Road can play a role in decongesting the nightmarish Edappally Toll Junction if the road resurfacing is carried out at the earliest. However, the project, costing nearly Rs. 25 lakh, appears not to be on the priority list for the state Public Works Department as the road has been lying in extremely poor condition for over three months now.
Moosa, a goods auto-rickshaw driver, who frequently uses the road, says it is really difficult to negotiate the road as it is in poor condition.
Part of the road has been completely dug up for laying six-inch water pipe to meet drinking water shortage at the nearby BM Nagar. Though the pipeline work was completed quickly three months ago, the resurfacing work has been held up for various reasons. The road has developed deep gutters on some stretches, making it a treacherous proposition to use the road, especially by night.
Member of the Thrikkakara Municipal Corporation’s Ward 1 Jijo Chinganthara said the work to blacktop the road would begin at the earliest and that the contractor had assured him that it was the delay in getting sufficient bitumen from the oil refinery that was holding up the resurfacing work.
Giju, a garage owner on the road, said the road has been in a bad shape for a long time, inconveniencing the people living along the road and also to people who use it to avoid the congested Edappally Toll Junction.
Public Works Standing Committee chairman of the municipal corporation Ajitha Thankappan said that the municipal authority everything was being done to make sure that the work was carried out at the earliest.
The Marottichuvadu-Paruthelipaalam Road links Edappally Toll on National Highway 47 to the Edappally bypass near Oberon Mall. The road is frequented by cars and two-wheelers wanting to avoid the congestion at the Edappally Toll. The number of vehicles using the road has increased over a month.
If the road is resurfaced, cars and two-wheelers will have easy and free access to South Kalamassery on National Highway 47 using the Pookkattupady-Edappally Road.
