The battered condition of Thoothukudi-Tiruchendur highway is causing hardship to road users.
E, Thennavan, a resident of Punnaikayal, who commutes to Thoothukudi on business, told The Hindu on Saturday that the stretch from Authoor, riddled with potholes, was the worst part of the highway and accident-prone too. Owing to the bad condition of the road, it was common to see two-wheeler riders losing balance and falling off their vehicles. While riders got injured, vehicles also got worn out soon.
In order to avoid this stretch, vehicle users bound for Tiruchendur from Thoothukudi take a circuitous route via Pudukottai, Authoor and Eral, involving additional eight km. Many taxi drivers are reluctant to take this road to Tiruchendur and even if they are willing, they collect an exorbitant fare.
The issue was taken to the attention of the district administration five months ago, but nothing came of it, the public said.
A. Mani, a taxi driver, said his vehicle got worn out because of taking this road. A bus driver said that normally it took not more than 50 minutes to an hour to reach Tiruchendur from Thoothukudi . But, now, it took around one-and-a-half hours. M.S. Muthu, district secretary, Democratic Youth Federation of India, said that road widening work on some portion of the highway was carried out without shifting electricity poles. It would certainly increase the probability of road accidents, he said.
Sources from Highways department said that the road widening work started near Mukkani in May. Owing to Assembly election, it was suspended and work would resume soon.
