Official promises fail to fill up potholes on roads in Kozhikode

As the city gears up to celebrate Onam, both motorists and pedestrians continue to struggle with potholed roads on almost all arterial routes in the city.

This is despite the assurance given by Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju at a meeting with officials in mid-August that all roads damaged in monsoon will be repaired before September 5.

A fortnight ago, Mayor A. K. Premajam also held a similar meeting with PWD officials at her chamber. The meeting also decided to take up patchworks initially and maintenance works subsequently.

But even now, most of the roads and junctions continue to remain in the same state as they were two weeks ago if not in a worse condition. The potholes have turned into craters at junctions making it difficult for traffic police to control the flow of vehicles.

Some of these fissures on the roads at Karaparamba, Eranhipalam, Pottamal, and Mankkavu have turned into a death trap with frequent accidents reported from the region. Even after the rain subsided, authorities seem to have turned a blind eye to the problems. Filling potholes with stones and waste have now become the job of local shopkeepers and auto drivers at some places.

It is a harrowing experience for motorists to travel the one- km Karaparamba-Karikkamkulam stretch of the Narikunni-Balussery State Highway. Consequently, the Karaparamba junction, where five roads converge, has become a bottleneck in the city.

Similar is the situation on East Nadakkavu cross road, the Francis Road- Chalappuram and Rajendra Hospital to Jaffer Khan colony routes, Azhichavattom, Mankavu, and Manorama junctions. Dangerous potholes could be seen at regular intervals on the Mini Bypass Road.

The city police have said the bad condition of the roads caused accident deaths in recent times. More police personnel have been deployed during the festival season. Accidents have become common at Pottammal traffic circle especially during night hours.

Officials say the laying of pipes on Francis road and Mankavu road as part of the implementation of the sewerage project is delaying the maintenance of these roads. Incidentally, both the roads have been included in the Kozhikode City Road Improvement Project.