Bumpy ride greets the motorists on many road corridors developed into world class roads in the heart of the capital in phases I and II of the 42-km City Road Improvement Project (CRIP).
Potholes, depressions, settlements, worn-out surfaces and uneven stretches that one sees in other roads maintained by PWD and civic bodies have surfaced on CRIP roads also. The CRIP was a trend-setter for the development of road network maintenance and is being emulated in five district headquarters.
R.R. Lamp-Vellayambalam-Kowdiar, Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam, Pattom-Kowdiar, Kowdair-Peroorkada, Eenchakkal, around Secretariat, M.G. Road, Attakulangara-Eenchakkal-Nalumukku-Old Collectorate, Museum-Nandavanam-RBI, Kumarapuram-Poonthi Road-KIMS-Venpalavattom are the stretches that need repairs.
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Damage caused by digging to repair pipe bursts, shifting of utilities, water logging and wear and tear had led to the deterioration of the road surface.
Lack of timely maintenance and inability to carry out profile corrections and overlay by the concessionaire-Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Ltd (TRDCL)-is leading to the deterioration of the roads day by day. “The bad condition had come to our notice. We have issued several directives to TRDCL to undertake the first overlay in Phase I and repairs of the damaged stretches in Phase II and they have yet to act”, a top official of Kerala Road Fund Board told The Hindu .
The roads developed in the first phase-2006-2007- are into mid-way of the 15-year maintenance contract.
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One of the bad stretches that is a nightmare to the motorists is Kanakakunnu palace-Vellayambalam Junction stretch where pipebursts took place.
In the Kuravankonam junction, compacting had not been done after the pipeburst and there is level difference.
When contacted, Managing Director of TRDCL, Anil Kumar Pandala, said the delay in procuring the hot mix plant was prolonging the work. Steps have been taken to hire the plant and commence work this week.
“Over 16 km needs overlay and we will commence with the busy Kowdiar-Vellayambalam followed by Vellayambalam-RR Lamp corridor. It will take two-and-a-half months and cost Rs. 8 crore per km”.
Scarification, which does not require digging up of roads, will be undertaken in bad stretches and where ruts have developed as in Sasthamangalam-Vellayambalam road.
The road markings will be provided afresh after the road repairs, he said.
*Concessionaire “delaying” overlay
*Overlay needed in Phase I and II corridors