The 7-km-long Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road, owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), may soon sport a beautified look.
According to GCDA Chairman C.N. Mohanan, the agency plans to entrust Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) with the beautification of the road complete with facilities like handrails.
“We are considering entering into an agreement with KMRL for the beautification of the road on the lines of the beautification of Panampilly Nagar. Initially, the northern stretch of the road between Kaloor and Kathrikadavu bridge will be beautified,” he said.
The GCDA has already given the road maintenance contract for the northern stretch to KMRL after terminating the original contract following a delay of over a year. The beautification work will have to wait till the completion of the surfacing of the stretch, Mr. Mohanan said. He added that KMRL was waiting for the rain to relent, and that it would launch the surfacing work once the rain stayed away for at least three consecutive days. The GCDA has entrusted KMRL with the repair of the 1,430-metre-long stretch between Kathrikadavu bridge and Kaloor at an estimated cost of ₹1.65 crore.
“We have noticed that the remaining stretch of the road on the southern side has also started deteriorating. Plans are afoot to get that stretch also repaired by KMRL,” the GCDA chief said.
Meanwhile, motorists taking the Kaloor-Kathrikadavu stretch continue to have a harrowing experience, as the condition of the pothole-strewn road has worsened. Thanks to rain, some potholes have turned so large that vehicles with low ground clearance often hit the ground.
Besides, motorists unfamiliar with the stretch and the ‘depth’ of those water-filled potholes often end up having a nasty surprise. Pedestrians are not spared either, as vehicles hitting potholes leave them with soiled clothes.
Soon after assuming office, Mr. Mohanan had roped in a contractor for repairing the road. The sorry state of the road was due to pipe laying by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). The contractor had then agreed to complete the work before January 31. The contractor had even done the preparatory work and was all set to go ahead with the project. However, the GCDA received a communication from the KWA asking to slow down the work as the freshly laid pipes had developed leak.
