With roads in various parts of Ramanathapuram remaining damaged, making it hard for pedestrians and motorists to use them particularly during rains, residents have demanded the authorities to re-lay the roads at the earliest.
Underground drainage (UGD) works began simultaneously in many parts of Ward No. 74 in Ramanathapuram such as Arumugam Nagar, Savithiri Nagar, Karunanithi Nagar and Bharathi Nagar as early as June. With the city receiving intermittent rains, including heavy showers for the last five months, the battered roads in these localities cause hardships to motorists and pedestrians alike.
Kamala (name changed), who has been a resident of Arumugam Nagar for the past 32 years, said that the UGD works have made it difficult for residents to use the roads for everyday purposes. “Grey water released from the nearby houses also gets stagnated on these roads,” she said, noting that water stagnation leads to increase in mosquito breeding in the area.
Noting that the UGD works in Bharathi Nagar left little space for pedestrians to walk, Bala (name changed), a grocery shop owner, alleged of apathy from the Corporation’s side.
“They should have at least ensured that enough space was available for walking, particularly for senior citizens,” he said.
With the works now completed, residents have demanded laying of roads immediately.
Residents are sore that the civic body started the UGD works in all the smaller roads at a wrong time, leaving the residents with no alternative road to commute. Even after the works are over, the civic body, which is waiting for the monsoon to exit, has just not bothered to even fill the pot holes with gravel to make it safe and motorable.
Accumulating garbage
The roads in Veerappa Thevar Colony (Ward No. 68) at the end of 80 Feet Road towards Nanjundapuram Road are not only damaged, but are flanked by accumulating garbage and construction debris. In fact, if the road is readied it will come handy for handling the additional traffic on Nanjundapuram Road that is struggling with the traffic diverted for enabling the Ukkadam flyover works.
According to Muthulingam, a shop owner in the area, the roads have remained battered for nearly three years. “No action has been taken yet,” he said. Ravi, a driver who frequents the road, said it was highly difficult to drive during rains.
A Corporation official told The Hindu that initial works to lay roads in Ramanathapuram have started. The accumulated garbage near 80 Feet Road will also be removed soon, the official said.
