Superficial top surface maintenance would not reduce the number of potholes on city roads anytime soon unless the foundation was properly re-laid, said T. Elangovan, scientist-G and head of Traffic and Transportation Division, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC).
Talking to The Hindu on the sidelines of a conference here on Friday, Mr. Elangovan said a thorough resurfacing and heavy maintenance of roads must be done after the completion of Kochi Metro works.
Cosmetic repairs by simply laying tar on top surface would not help. Instead the roads must be dug up 60-70cm deep and re-laid layer by layer. “When that’s not done roads tend to cave in creating potholes,” he said.
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Mr. Elangovan said the implementation of a NATPAC report on the pedestrian-friendly urban public transport for Kochi would have to wait till the completion of metro works.
The proposals for wider footpaths, safety railings, pedestrian crossings, skywalks and subways could materialise only after the alignment of Kochi Metro Rail and the location of its stations were finalised.
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He said the emergence of Kochi metro would drastically change the transportation scenario in the city. “The existing roads in the city could not be widened proportionate to the doubling of vehicles every six-and-a-half years. The only alternative is to reduce the number of private vehicles and promote public transport, which Kochi Metro is capable of,” he said.
‘Planning needed’“Kochi is now matured for the introduction of light rail transit system such as metro, which will have the capacity to take care of traffic for the next 15-20 years. However, the city must plan in advance by identifying corridors for the mass rapid transit system thereafter,” Mr. Elangovan said.