KOCHI: Mayor Tony Chammany has failed to keep his promise to repair all city roads before the monsoon onset on June 1. During a high-level meeting he convened on April 30, he asked the agencies to relay the damaged roads, especially along the Metro corridor, by May 31.
However, many trenched roads are yet to be restored. The mayor had also instructed them to complete all trenching works in two days. However, very few roads were restored.
“Several roads in eastern parts of the city are still in poor condition. Now it’s difficult to repair them with the monsoon set to arrive this week,” Opposition leader K J Jacob said.
The corporation’s works committee chairperson Soumini Jain claimed that compared to previous years, sufficient funds were allocated and the city roads were in good condition.
“There's a comprehensive change in road works. Concrete tiles are used to relay small roads and the arterial roads are resurfaced using bitumen macadam and bitumen concrete with a five-year guarantee so that they remain intact for long and require no annual maintenance,” she said.
However, she admitted that few roads in Fort Kochi, Edappally and Deshabhimani areas, which were trenched for KWA and KSEB utility line laying works, are yet to be restored.
Road repair works by Public Works Department and the City Road Improvement Project initiated by Metro Rail company are yet to be completed.
Meanwhile, Greater Cochin Development Authority chairman N. Venugopal said relaying of Kaloor – Kadavanthra Road and the next phase of Thevara – Thykoodam Bund Road was progressing. “Concrete tiles are being laid along the junctions at Kaloor—Kadavanthra Road. The stretch from Kadavanthra to Kathrikadavu Bridge will be upgraded within a couple of weeks using bitumen concrete and bitumen macadam with a five-year guarantee,” he said.
