KOZHIKODE: A much awaited road built to ease traffic congestion in Vadakara city has turned out to be a parking zone now. The Link road, connecting National Highway and Vadakara old bus stand, is in a bad condition, thanks to the unscientific way of constructing the road. The 800 metre road has around a dozen curves which lead to accidents. Four lives were lost on the road since it was opened five years ago. Most of the mishaps have occurred because bike riders hit the handrail of the footpath which was built on the road.
Due to the accidents, Link road was made one-way and now it has turned into a parking zone. “Link road is the best example of the worst civic planning of Municipal authorities due to vested interests. The road was constructed with lots of curves to exclude some land from acquisition and some other lands would face the road,” alleged Vishwananthan. G.S, a retired treasury employee.
He also said that a mild shower is all it took for the road to get waterlogged. Anvar V, a retail trader in Vadakara says that poor planning had become a blessing in disguise for parking woes. “Otherwise, there is no parking space in Vadakara city. Let, the road be at least useful for that purpose,” he said sarcastically. Vadakara Municipality Chairman K. Shreedharan said that attempts would be made to make Link road accident-free.
