Kochi: Despite the bad state of the city roads inviting widespread criticism against the methods adopted for their maintenance, the City Corporation is still sitting on some of the major Road Conclave suggestions like implementation of Road Annuity Scheme.
The scheme ensures that the construction of roads is completed within the deadline and that they are operated and maintained according to specific standards.
Despite the recommendation of the works standing committee, the corporation council is yet to consider the proposal.
It was at the end of 2011 that the City Corporation organised the Road Congress with the objective of framing proper plans to repair and maintain city roads.
“It is not feasible for the corporation to introduce the annuity scheme for narrow and small roads in the divisions.
Though the scheme can be effectively implemented for big roads like Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and Chittoor Road, no initiative has been taken so far.
The works committee can only make recommendations in this regard,” said works committee chairperson Mrs. Soumini Jain.
The annuity scheme has much significance in Kochi in the wake of city roads getting damaged frequently and the corporation having to dole out huge amounts for annual maintenance of roads.
Corporation contractors also have welcomed the proposal and according to them, they would be able to properly maintain roads using the fixed amount paid by the civic body.
A top official at the corporation said that the annuity scheme was being introduced for maintenance of street lights.
“The annuity scheme will help the cash-strapped civic body in improving basic services to the public,” the official remarked.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Road Fund Board has successfully undertaken road development projects on the annuity scheme in Thiruvananthapuram.
The City Road Improvement Programme (CRIP) in Thiruvananthapuram has become a model for other states.
Metro cities like Chennai and even Rajkot had taken valuable lessons from road development in Thiruvananthapuram.
