In the late 2000s, the entire stretch of National Highways connecting North to South across the State were converted into four-lane highways. In those period, the two-lane highway in the southern districts was craving for widening because of the vehicular congestion owing to high volume of road traffic on narrow roads.
On completion, the four-lane roads - Tiruchi-Madurai-Tirunelveli and Madurai-Thoothukudi - became objects of pride, signalling major development in this part of the country, though the benefits came with a price in the form of toll.
The Union government then justified toll collection for providing safe and comfortable ride, savings for road users in terms of fuel consumption and reduced wear and tear of vehicles . But, almost eight years after getting used to the fast lane, motorists are complaining about the bad quality of road on both highways.
Lack of maintenance is the major accusation from road users.
This is despite the National Highways Authority of India revising the toll every financial year.
The roads have not been re-laid even once after they were first laid. The roads that promised safety have become a nightmare with dangerous potholes at many stretches.
Besides, the uneven surfaces, especially over the culverts and bridges often posed danger to high-speed vehicles that start wobbling. The jolts to the vehicles due to potholes and jerks because of the uneven surface denied the motorists the promised ride comfort.
Bitumen vanishing ?
Adding to these adverse factors is the surface becoming rough after the black-topped roads started turning pale. Most stretches of the road have turned grey after the vanishing of bitumen on the surface, complains taxi-driver P. Balasubramanian (34).
B. Althaf, secretary, Madurai Goods Transporters Association, said, “Wear and tear of tyres are on the increase on Madurai-Virudhunagar stretch due to bad condition of the road. Even important parts of lorries are damaged when they hit potholes.” He said that his association took these issues to the notice of the authorities but to no avail.
As soon as the vehicles land on the rough surface, they lose considerable speed. And the tyres create noise as they hit hard on the uneven layer of gravels. As a result, the road markings with white paint have disappeared. “The road marking in the centre and margins on either side of the median guide the motorists so that they will not veer away from the carriage way and not hit the median at high speed. The line in the centre divides the two-lane distinctively to keep vehicles travelling at higher speed apart. But, these lines, crucial for vehicle safety, are missing,” Mr. Balasubramanian said.
No truck bay
C. Sathiah, Madurai Lorry Owners Association, has a different complaint. “The entire stretch of highway for over 200 km till Kanyakumari does not have a truck bay, where the lorries could be parked in the nights for drivers to take rest,” he said attributing this to increasing number of accidents. Besides, the NHAI has not provided proper toilet facility for the lorry crew, he said.
Long stretches of cracks on road margins are there at many spots of the highways.
“Many motorists complain to us about the bad condition of the road. But, they do not know that I am here only to collect the toll,” said a youth manning a toll gate at the toll plaza in Kappalur. He simply points his hand to the toll plaza office suggesting to lodge complaints there.
At the toll plaza, the manager, S.K. Suman, pleaded helplessness. “Our contract is only for collecting toll on behalf of the NHAI. We have nothing to do with maintenance of road,” he said. However, the employees at the toll plaza continue to bear the brunt of angry and irritated road users. “Road users do complain about bad roads and we forward them to the office of Project Director, NHAI,” he added.
A NHAI source admitted that there was failure on part of the previous contractor who had the responsibility to maintain the road. However, he said that patch works had been undertaken in the recent weeks.
The Madurai-Tirunelveli highway was completed in 2009 and toll collection started in 2012 due to legal issues. However, the contractor did not re-lay the road. He was supposed to re-lay the road five years after it was commissioned.
The source added that the re-laying work should have been started in 2014 and completed by March 2016. “It is only because of his failure that the contract was terminated. After completing the legal process involving contract termination, the NHAI is gearing up to re-lay the highway,” the source said.
