Locals said that the rains intensified late and there was enough curing time
A car makes its way through a pothole on St Benedict road following the rains. (Photo: DC)
Kochi: Roads that were recently repaired by various agencies in the city and outskirts failed to withstand even the first phase of the monsoon. Potholes were formed in the roads along Tripunithura, Vyttila and Edappally, especially along the Metro corridor. Even as agencies make tall claims on Bitumen Macadam and Bitumen Concrete tarring on five-year guarantee, roads remain in poor condition.
Agencies like the PWD, City Corporation, Greater Cochin Development Authority and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation completed the resurfacing of roads just before the onset of the monsoon. But the tar on the surface has started flaking with the first sign of rains. Resurfacing has been done in a shoddy manner, allege regular commuters and shopkeepers.
“Though the arterial road along the Metro corridor was restored on a temporary basis, the repairing could have been done in a better way. Large potholes have formed along SA Road, Palarivattom and Edappally,” said sources at Kochi Metro Rail Limited.
Meanwhile, corporation works committee chairperson Soumini Jain said that the major reasons for the damage of the restored roads were damaged and blocked drains, excavation of roads for utility line shifting and not lack of curing time after the work.
“Since, most of the drains along the Metro corridor are either blocked or damaged there is no outlet for water to flow. When water seeps into the road, the new tar coating easily flakes,” she said.
According to PWD officials, repair work was carried out late and it was the lack of adequate curing time caused the situation.
However, locals said that the rains intensified late and there was enough curing time. “Roads are easily damaged only because of su-bstandard repair work,” said M. Rajendran, a private bus worker.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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