KOCHI: The Public Work Department's (PWD) decision to stop road repair works without finishing the patchwork to level the tarred portion with the newly-laid interlocking tiles has been cited as the reason for regular traffic congestion on major roads in the city. Though interlocking tiles have been laid in some sections of the busiest Vyttila-Kunnara Park Road and Tripunithura-Nadakkavu state highway, the PWD had stopped without completing the works to level the tarred portion with the interlocking tiles.
"At Udayamperoor, where the tiled stretch begins on the Tripunithura-Nadakkavu road, there is regular traffic congestion. Even the buses have to slow down and put break to get onto the portion laid by tiles. Two- and three-wheel riders will feel the sharp jerk as the tiled portion is much higher than the road level," said K. Manoj Kumar, a regular commuter.
Residents of the area and the commuters were happy when the PWD started the repairing of the road which was in very bad condition for long. But their joy was short-lived with PWD calling it quits before completing the patchworks. With the beginning of Sabarimala pilgrim season, number of vehicles, including inter-state buses, using the Tripunithura-Nadakkavu road has grown exponentially. With increased vehicle density, the partially repaired road will break easily, point out the local residents.
