If the number of complaints registered with the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) is any indication, Ernakulam tops the list in the number of potholed roads and damaged culverts.
According to KSTP officials, the total number of complaints registered between January and May this year under the PWD initiative was 202.
According to PWD Minister Ebrahim Kunju, a total of 1,597 complaints from across the state have been registered so far with Pathanamthitta recording the least number of complaints.
In the recent ‘Talk to the Minister’ programme where the PWD Minister personally attended the phone calls from the public last week, most of the complainants were from the district. Complaints regarding the damaged canal at Poopaniayimuri Road at Perumbavoor, Edappally-Pookkattuppadi Road at Thevakkal, damaged buildings at Muvattapuzha and roads at Cheranellore poured in.
Chandrasekharan, a resident of Thevakkal who made a phone call to the Minister, said the latter assured that immediate steps would be taken to repair the road between Thevakkal and Kangarappadi. “One fourth of the narrow road was dug up for laying pipes for KINFRA,” he said. Though the authorities promised then to undertake repair works soon, no positive step has been taken yet. “This is why I placed the call to the Minister. The road is filled with potholes,” he said. On the programme, the PWD Minister said of the total number of complaints, 933 have already been resolved.
“The department was able to resolve 445 complaints regarding damaged and accident-prone roads. The chief engineers have been appointed to hear the public plea and to monitor the complaints. The number of complaints on PWD roads have come down drastically,” he said.
As part of the programme, KSTP receives 40-45 phone calls every day from 9 am to 7.30 pm, except on Sundays
Potholed Roads
At Palarivattom junction, cracks have appeared on the road and heavy rains have added to the woes. “The repair works are not consistent. Authorities dig up roads to lay pipes even during monsoon,” said Ashokan, an auto driver at Palarivattom. The roads near the Kathrikadavu Bridge and Vyttila also cut a sorry figure.