The Kodical Main Road that passes through the residential locality of Kodical was asphalted in 2009 at a cost of over Rs. 35 lakh, just ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Now, its condition has deteriorated so much such that it looks as though it had not been tarred for years.
The central portion of the road, where sewage pipelines were laid in early 2009, has caved in at many places. A long stretch in front of Priya Wood Works looks like a mud road.
“Ever since we shifted here five years ago to a rented house, this particular stretch (in front of Priya Wood Works) is in poor condition. I was happy when the entire road was asphalted a year ago. But my happiness was short lived. The stretch deteriorated again during the last monsoon season. This year it has worsened,” said Bhaskar Rao, an employee of a private company.
No drainage system
“There is no proper drainage system along the road, particularly between the Priya Wood Works and Kodical Cross, where it joins the National Highway 17. This stretch is slushy,” said Girish, a friend of Mr. Rao.
Mr. Girish urged the city corporation to construct drains on both sides of the stretch from the wood works, via Navami apartments, till the telephone exchange. “Otherwise, slush on the road will remain a perennial problem,” he said.
Councillor of Derebail North Ward M. Shashidhar Hegde said that in addition to his ward, the road passed through portions of Bangra Kuloor and Derebail West wards. He had suggested to the civic body to concrete the stretch in front of the wood works, he said.
Mr. Hegde said that the city corporation had agreed to construct a wide culvert at Kodical Cross at an estimated cost of Rs. 18 lakh. The work would begin after rains. The road from the highway side would have to be closed then. He would ensure that the corporation simultaneously took up concreting the slushy stretch.
He said that he had suggested the corporation not to asphalt the entire road after the sewage pipelines were laid under a project, as it required a year (or one rainy season) to settle down.
Harish, councillor from Bangra Kuloor, said that there was pressure from the people for getting the road tarred, especially after it was dug up. Gopala Gowda, Assistant Executive Engineer, who agreed with the views of Mr. Harish, said that getting the main road and some stretches of the connecting roads tarred had cost between Rs. 35 lakh and Rs. 40 lakh
