Coimbatore Corporation, it appears, does not want to be left behind when it comes to news regarding open pits, holes or manholes. In Bharathi Colony, Peelamedu, the civic body has left open a manhole on the Third Street ever since it executed the underground drainage work more than two years ago.
And from the uncovered manhole have emanated stories of residents falling while walking or riding two-wheelers and damaging their four-wheelers by riding their cars on the road.
It has now become a part of the area’s folklore, says S. Sree Lakshmi, a resident of the Third Street.
The problem began soon after the Corporation dug the road to lay underground drainage pipeline and construct chambers.
It was monsoon then. At places where the Corporation had dug, the earth contracted creating severe undulations.
The result was that the residents had see-saw rides by driving on the road.
With the passage of time, the road condition further deteriorated, thanks to the impact of the heavy vehicles, which use the Third Street to enter and exit the Peelamedu Industrial Estate.
Once the heavy or commercial vehicles get stuck in the pits or hole, it becomes difficult to pull out the vehicle and till then the residents cannot use their four-wheelers as the width of the road is too narrow to provide the necessary manoeuvring space, laments K. Kuppusamy, another resident.
After the residents took up the issue with the Corporation, the civic body provided ad hoc solution by dumping sand on the dug up portion so as to even the road surface to make it motorable.
Soon thereafter it was back to square one for the residents as the holes resurfaced.
S. Kumar, another resident, says that the Third Street has a school.
The parents or contract vehicles ferry the children and that adds to the residents’ worry.
He says that any accident involving the children would be disastrous.
P.K. Rajendran, Councillor, Ward 39, says that he is aware of the issue and has raised the same at the Corporation Council meeting. He represents the area.
The civic body has now obtained funds from the government to repair roads that are damaged because of the execution of the underground drainage.
At present work was in progress in two localities in the Ward and soon the roads in Bharathi Colony will be laid afresh.
He promises that the work will be completed by August.
