KOCHI: There are many roads in the city that are not repaired owing to shortage of funds, official apathy and many other reasons. But, then there are roads that are not repaired perhaps owing to ‘personal or professional hostility’.
Take the case of Kaloor-Kadavanthra road which is maintained by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). The road riddled with potholes that runs along the residence of many prominent people, including Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany, cuts a sorry picture.
With the onset of monsoon, potholes have resurfaced on the busy road and commuters feel there is an immediate need for repair works. But, the GCDA authorities seems to have turned a blind eye towards this.
Sources said that the reason for the delay in undertaking repair works could be the well-known tussle between the Mayor and GCDA chairman N Venugopal. “Considering the pathetic state the road turns into every monsoon season, the GCDA should take an initiative to bring about a permanent solution to gain more durability for the roads,” said sources with the Corporation.
However, GCDA said that it has limits as it is maintaining more roads than the civic body in the city.
“The GCDA is building new roads and repairing roads more than the civic body. The land acquisition works for Thammanam-Pullepady Road, which has been handed over to the PWD now, and the development of SA Road was carried out by GCDA. It is the agency that is developing the bund road,” said GCDA chairman N Venugopal.
“Whatever be the reason for non-repairing, we bear the brunt,” says the common man.