Commuters are peeved at the delay in re-laying one part of the road stretch between Peroorkada and Vazhayila, dug up by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to replace the 1,200-mm pre-stressed concrete transmission pipeline from Aruvikkara to Peroorkada with mild steel pipes.
The line replacing work, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has been completed but authorities are yet to restore the road making it difficult for road-users. The monsoon aggravated the situation, with the potholed road becoming muddy. Shaji, a college student and resident of Thuruthummoola, said the situation was worse during peak hours as traffic almost came to a standstill with motorists struggling to cover the stretch between the church and the petrol pump at Vazhayila. It would take at least 30 minutes to cover the stretch during morning and evening peak hours, he added.
The delay in completing the work was causing hardships to residents and pedestrians too. Manian Pillai, a petty shop owner near the petrol pump, said people had to wait for a long time to cross the road during peak hours. Pedestrians had to be extremely cautious as the road was too narrow now.
Questions were being asked about the need to cut open the road which was recently developed under the City Roads Improvement Project, to lay new pipes.
The Vazhayila unit of the Left Democratic Front had announced an agitation in protest against the delay in restoring the road. The front had put up posters alleging corruption in executing the project by digging a newly constructed road, which, according to them, was a waste of public money.
A KWA official told The Hindu that work to re-lay pipes had been completed till Peroorkada and in a week’s time sanction would be given to re-lay rest of the stretch. The KWA had given around Rs.2.5 crore to the Public Works Department to restore the road.
