The ongoing works by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) to lay underground cables in market area has resulted in traffic congestion as motorists and traders wanted the relaying works to be carried out without delay.
Under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) of the Central Government for urban distribution system strengthening, Tangedco is implementing the scheme in Erode, Karungalpalayam, Market, Surampatti, Sathy Road, Veerappanchatiram, Collectorate, Marapalam, Periyar Nagar and Fire Service areas to benefit 91,275 service connections. High tension and overhead lines are being converted as underground cables and work is currently carried out near Manikoondu area.
Nethaji daily vegetable market, textile showrooms, provisional stores and textile shops are located in large numbers in the area keeping the road busy throughout the day. Also, vehicles, including buses, from Cauvery Road take the R.K.V. Road to reach Panneerselvam Park. Since one-side of the road is dug for laying cables, only two-wheelers were able to pass through the narrow roads. This result in congestion on other roads in the area vehicles pile up on roads affecting the motorists, commuters and pedestrians.
Motorists and traders wanted the highways department to relay the roads after works were completed. Instead of waiting for works to be completed in the entire stretch of two km., officials should at least dump gravels mixed with cement on the trench so that the road is motorable, said P. Krishnan, who runs a textile shop at Manikoondu. He said that poor roads affect two-wheelers and the pedestrians the most and wanted relaying works to be done at the earliest.
Many two-wheelers said that the road will turn slushy even for little rain and in the absence of footpaths, pedestrians would face the hardship.
