Kochi: The civic authorities have failed to take concrete steps to repair the sinking road along the Kochi Metro Rail corridor between Kaloor and Lissie Junction, forcing motorists to suffer for more than two years now.
Commuters, especially two-wheel riders, face the risk of falling down during the bumpy rides as the earth below the road has sunken, resulting in the uneven corridor near Metro pillars in the stretch.
The public works department (PWD), responsible for maintenance of the stretch, though, is happy carrying out temporary repair works like replacing tiles while citing inadequacy of funds to carry out permanent repair works that include raising the portion and concreting it.
The loose earth below has resulted in collapse of a building there last year. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is also facing a similar issue at the Ernakulam North rail over bridge.
"We're continuously carrying out repair works so as to make the stretch motorable," said a senior DMRC official. "So, the vehicles don't face any difficulty here unlike the Kaloor section."
When contacted, a senior PWD official said currently the road extension work (Gokulam side) and the culvert work near the PVS Hospital is progressing.
"The work on the culvert is almost over," said M.T. Shabu, executive engineer, PWD roads division, Ernakulam. "We'll set up a retaining wall and fully open the section for traffic in a couple of week. The work of road extension too has been started. We couldn't do the same in the last two years as the KWA delayed shifting a pipeline there." On the uneven road surface, another top PWD official said temporary works like replacement of tiles will be carried out yet again before the start of the monsoon season. "A permanent solution will require the portion being raised and concreting. However, we're yet to get funds for this. I've given direction to prepare estimate as the same can be submitted for allocation of funds once the model code of conduct ends on May 23," the official said.
It would take another six months for sanctioning of the funds and the motorists will have to bear with bumpy rides for some more time.
