THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The MC Road and Vizhinjam-Parassala road enroute to Kanyakumari have become dangerous for both pedestrians and vehicles as the KSEBL refuses to charg street lights. While MC Road has dangerous curves from Vattappara to Venjaramoodu, the Vizhinjam -Parassala road is narrow and accident-prone. A haphazardly parked car or a random stray dog is enough to cause life threatening accidents here, say local citizens.
“KSEBL officials claim that the conductor wires here have patina formation over it,” said Poovar panchayat vice-president Jisthi Maideen Pillai. “At least three series of maintenance have been done in coastal areas around Poovar before monsoon. The Panchayat had provided all spares but still darkness prevails. In certain areas, lazy linemen do not charge street lights for seven-eight days continuously until we protest.”
The local police who had no figures on the number of accidents said that freak accidents are common in places like Kanjiramkulam and Uchakkada. Lack of funds with local bodies is causing trouble on MC Road. “Certain areas around Vattappara have faulty street lights and the panchayat has no funds for maintenance,” said Karakulam panchayat president R. Pramod Kumar. “Since, the budget exercise is over we will gradually get money and we hope to sort out the problem.”
The existing fluorescent lights on MC road are already inadequate and morning walkers all the way until Koppam are abundant, says truck driver K.C Sreekumar. The areas around the stretch between Nemom and Balaramapuram that was expecting road-widening are also in darkness. “We are in the process of installing automatic timers that switch street lights on and off on new Kazhakoottam-Vizhinjam bypass and inside the city,” a senior official attached to the KSEBL distribution (south) wing said adding that problems would be resolved. “At present, linemen from the local section switch on lights and we hope to automate the system.”
