Flooded with complaints from the public about the pathetic condition of major roads maintained by the PWD, Kochi Corporation, GCDA, and RBDCK and the inordinate delay in repairing them, District Collector S. Suhas has instructed officials of various departments to take steps to fill potholes, making liberal use of wet mix macadam (WMM) and ready-mix materials (like cold-mix bitumen) on a war footing.
The above technologies can be adopted even during rainy weather, when rain takes a break for a couple of hours. At a meeting convened here on Saturday, Mr. Suhas directed officials to take urgent steps to repair the severely-damaged portions of Banerjee Road (maintained by PWD), Kundannoor-Neriamanagalam NH 85 (maintained by PWD-NH Wing), especially at Thripunithura SN Junction, Poothotta, and the stretch up to Thiruvankulam, Edakochi (owned by PWD), and Seaport-Airport Road (maintained by RBDCK).
The PWD should also tend to damaged roads in Goshree Islands, Munambam, and Muvattupuzha. Magisterial orders will be issued to speed up repair work, if needed, he warned.
PWD officials assured that the repair work would begin by August 30, so that potholes could be filled before Onam. GCDA officials cited the excuse that tender process was under way to award repair work on the severely-potholed Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road. The NHAI has been directed to urgently repair the damaged portions of Container Road. Mr. Suhas directed the PWD and the NHAI to jointly work out a method to repair the Edappally-Aroor NH Bypass, especially the vicinity of flyover work sites.
