Absence of streetlights along the busy Kariavattom - Kazhakkoottam Road is posing problems for motorists, most of them techies, during night-time.
The lights from the headlamps of vehicles alone are not sufficient to find one’s way along the road. While during daytime it takes less than 10 minutes to reach Technopark or Kazhakkoottam from Kariavattom, at night it takes much more time and driving is rather bumpy as there are some rough patches on the road that motorists won’t see owing to the lack of streetlights.
The 3-km-long road which links Technopark and Kazhakkoottam Junction is used by people round-the-clock as it is safer during night-time than the Bypass Road. Presently, lights can be seen only in front of the Kerala University campus where an ATM counter functions. After a long stretch, lights are visible only at Kazhakkoottam Junction.
An official of the University campus and a resident of Kariavattom said that installing streetlights was a long-time demand.
Pradeesh Nair, who resides near Kariavattom campus of the Kerala University, said that pedestrians also found it difficult to walk along the road owing to the darkness. “The road is used by students, including girls, and by techies heading to their office for night shifts. The lack of lighting is a cause of worry for all of them,” he said. The road has been in existence for several years, but no local body has taken the trouble to install streetlights.
The councillor of Kazhakkoottam Sreerekha said that a resolution has been placed in the Corporation council for installation of streetlights. The work is expected to be taken up soon.
The residents also alleged that anti-social elements had damaged the few streetlights that were functioning several years ago along the road. Many stretches of the busy Bypass Road nearby also lack lighting, it is pointed out.