MADURAI

Though rains on Sunday evening may have cooled off the city and brought cheer to the city residents, slushy and water stagnant New Natham Road, pose a serious threat to road users.

With the ongoing construction work of an elevated corridor by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the road is riddled with deep potholes and craters. After the brief spell of showers on Sunday, stagnant rainwater covers all potholes and pits, making it difficult for motorists to identify danger zones.

“Today morning a 60-year-old two-wheeler rider slipped near the Naganakulam junction as it is difficult to identify the depth of the pothole which is brimming with rainwater,” says S. Balamurugan, a shopkeeper near the junction.

Drivers of cars, vans, buses and two-wheeler riders also forced to reduce the speed of the vehicle to overcome jerks. This increases the congestion on the road during peak hours, complain motorists.

The heavy vehicles, which pass through the reduced passageway due to the construction work, force two-wheeler riders to pass through the potholes. “If two-wheeler riders try to avoid the potholes, they stand a risk of clashing with the speeding buses,” says M. Kasirajan, a school van driver.

Shopkeepers on the stretch echo that even after repeated complaints, the authorities have not covered the craters with soil. “Even after three days of complaining, the authorities have not covered this crater. The language barrier is also delaying the work,” says Mohammad Ismail, a shopkeeper near the Reserve Line.

Adding to the set of problems is the poor illumination at the stretch for the past three months. The street light lamp posts were relocated on the stretch due to construction work and the street lights have not become functional yet, complain motorists. “Motorists skid on the stretch every day and the instances will only increase with the sludgy roads after rains,” says Mr. Kasirajan.

An official from the NHAI says that works for illuminating the new lamp posts is under way and will function shortly. “However, the Madurai Corporation is responsible for the street lights that are not relocated,” says the official. maintenance of the road is tougher, adds the official. “Even if we cover the potholes, they are damaged the next day after heavy vehicle pass through them,” the official adds.