It’s a smooth ride in Kerala's capital city, almost

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Roads in the capital developed and maintained by the public works department were in good shape till the monsoon started. The recent spate of rainfall had resulted in waterlogging in many stretches and potholes developed on several PWD roads.
Now the PWD has started works to repair the stretches before Onam. Meanwhile, major roads developed under the City Roads Improvement Project (CRIP) are in better shape.
Of the stretches which had developed potholes, PWD has done repair works in Sasthamangalam-Marutumkuzhy and Vanross-Bakery roads. “We will take up tarring of the major stretches such as Thirumala- Mangattukadavu, Jagathy-Poojappura, Jagathy – Vazhuthacuad, Peroorkkada-Mannamoola, Vellayambalam-Vazhuthacaud etc after Onam. Works were already started in T K Divakaran road,” said assistant executive engineer C Harikumar.
“If there is a dry period of two-three days, we could have completed all rectification works before Onam. Currently, the Muttada-Paruthipara road is in bad shape. We have plans to lay BM-BC in the stretch after doing the rectification works,” the official said.
The PWD has stacked raw materials for maintenance of Vattiyoorkavu-Vellaikadavu, Indira Nagar road in Peroorkkada, Peroorkkada-Nettayam, Peroorkkada-Mannanthala, NCC road in Ambalamukku-Kudapanakunnu stretch etc.
The utility shifting works and construction works under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) are troubling the PWD. “The PWD was all set to start the Kuravankonam-Maruthur-Ambalanagar road when the corporation approached them for tar cutting sanction for AMRUT. They have sought the sanction of tar cutting at NCC road. The PWD has given a letter asking them to finish their works within 20 days,” sources said.
M S Venugopal, general secretary of Federation of Residents’ Association Trivandrum (FRAT) said that the core roads in the city were in better shape as the company engaged in the development of roads under CRIP have the responsibility of its maintenance. “The Muttada-Paruthipara is one such stretch which is in a dilapidated condition,” he said.