KOCHI: After nearly three years, Maradu residents can finally heave a sigh of relief as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to complete repair work on the 5km Kundannoor-Pettah stretch of NH 85 (Kochi-Theni Greenfield Highway).
Authorities completed most of the work on the stretch two months ago, but left unattended a small section, where the asphalt was removed. The 20m stretch in front of Abad Nucleus Mall emerged as a major bottleneck on the stretch.
“NHAI has now started laying interlocking tiles in this tiny stretch. And this has improved the flow of traffic. It took them nearly two months to carry out the work,” said A B Sabu, former chairman of the standing committee of Kochi corporation, who now works as an executive engineer with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).
“The work is being carried out at night so as to have minimal impact on traffic. The work had been suspended after poor construction resulted in certain technical issues. Rain also hampered progress. Now, the old tiles are being replaced on the stretch till SDV LP School. The work is expected to be completed in a couple of days,” said Jiji Preman, ward 18 councillor.
According to sources, NHAI began laying tiles from both ends a couple of months ago, but unscientific construction resulted in a difference in road level in front of Nucleus Mall.
Meanwhile, Maradu municipality chairperson Antony Ashanparambil alleged there was no need to replace the old tiles in the first place. “The interlocking tiles on the stretch were already in good condition. However, NHAI decided to waste public money by replacing them unnecessarily.
Instead, they should have carried out repair work at Kundannoor Junction, where deep potholes have formed. Moreover, the tiles laid on the service roads there have already come undone. Motorists are now forced to negotiate an uneven road surface, and this has slowed down traffic. Regular waterlogging on the roads is also a concern,” he said.
Earlier, construction of a culvert at Tripunithura Bypass Junction, which should normally have been completed in three months, dragged on for over two-and-a-half years due to several reasons. What started as a pothole nearly three years ago gradually developed into a pit on one side of NH 966 B. Below this section ran a narrow canal built around 60 years ago by Cochin Refinery as part of a temporary road. As the canal eroded, the earth began to cave in, rendering part of the road unusable and causing numerous accidents, especially involving two-wheelers.
Tug of war
NHAI says work in front of Nucleus Mall suspended due to difference in road level caused by unscientific construction
Maradu municipality chairperson refutes claims, says interlocking tiles were in good condition