Damages on a road under construction on Mettupalayam road, near Veerapandi Pirivu, is a matter of concern to the road users.
According to Radha Kumar, who resides in Mettupalayam and travels to Coimbatore at least twice a week, works are on to widen the road and the road, across a culvert, that was under construction was opened for traffic on Monday. Earth was filled on the road side.
With rain, the earth was washed away. This led to damages on the road. Vehicles, going to and from Coimbatore, were using just a part of the road. The road was damaged near Thambi school too.
An official of the National Highways of the State Highways Department said the damage was rectified on Monday. The culvert work was yet to be completed. Further, the drinking water pipeline was running along the edge of the road on Mettupalayam Road and when there are leakages in the pipeline, the road is damaged.
The NH is widening the road for five km into a four-lane one near Veerapandi Pirivu.
K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said the road users expected high quality of work on NH roads. Vehicle movement should not have been permitted when the construction works were still on. “ The damages show there is a problem in construction. It is a matter of concern. The NH should take serious note of the issue and check the quality of the works on the roads it is developing or widening.”
Mr. Kathirmathiyon pointed out that even within the city, there was a damage on the road near Chinthamani. For three months, it had not been set right. When there were damages, the Highways Department should take note and rectify them immediately, he said.
