Even as the territorial administration has stepped in with preparatory measures ahead of the northeast monsoon, the crumbling road infrastructure that has been exposed following the recent spell of rains in September has made commuting on arterial stretches a nightmare for motorists.
The condition of roads in Puducherry is awfully bad and poses a risk to motorists. Potholes, deep trenches and unscientifically designed speed-breakers only add to the woes of road users.
The arterial roads connecting Villupuram and Cuddalore, which serve as the key stretches for vehicles entering Puducherry, are ill-maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD). The concrete covered manholes on the entire stretch of the Villupuram Road from Indira Gandhi Square to Moolakulam have been exposed putting the lives of motorists at risk.
Poor alignment
Sources said that lack of coordination among departments was to be blamed as the concrete covered manholes had been laid in such a way that they were not aligned with the road level. The condition of roads in the suburbs, including Villianur and Bahour, is no different. The scene on the Perambai Road and Muthupillaipalayam bears testimony to the pitiable condition of the pothole-ridden roads on the stretch with motorists taking a detour through Perambai to reach Villianur and Villupuram. The repairs undertaken often are cosmetic and are washed away in the rain.
Motorists have been avoiding this stretch and taking the narrow service lanes on both sides under the railway bridge at Arumparthapuram as travelling through this stretch is risky.
According to A. Arasakumar, a resident of Reddiyarpalayam, “private buses ply on the road at a breakneck speed and motorists have to steer clear of them while avoiding the gaps on the roads.
The PWD should be taken to task for poor maintenance of the roads,” he said.
A nightmare for riders
Kalaiselvan, an autorickshaw driver, said that autorickshaw drivers have been refusing to take commuters to Perambai. Wear and tear of the vehicles has increased and a good portion of earnings is mainly used for upkeep and periodic maintenance of the vehicles, besides long time taken to reach the place. “Puducherry once had a reputation for its neat and straight roads. But, now the reputation seems to be taking a backseat with those visiting Puducherry should be doubly cautious due to pitiable condition of the roads. The unscientifically designed rubber and plastic speed-breakers at short distances on various roads are an easy trap to face fatal accidents,” said an official.
According to the Indian Road Congress (IRC) norms, speed-breakers should be built by providing a rounded hump of 3.7 metres width and 100 cm height so that vehicles slow down in that area. These should be painted in black and white with luminous paint. A cautionary sign should be placed 40 metres before the speed-breakers. Speed-breakers have been laid on 45-feet road and in Boulevard area in violation of these norms.
