A gaping pothole on Thammanam–Pullepady Road in Kochi.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
The incessant monsoon rain over the past few days has added to the woes of motorists and pedestrians, who are forced to navigate pothole-ridden roads and improperly restored arterial and side roads in the city.Expressing concern over the condition of innumerable roads and pedestrian pathways owned and maintained by the Kochi Corporation, the Public Works department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), P.C. Ajith Kumar, general secretary of the Ernakulam District Residents’ Associations’ Apex Council (EDRAAC), said the body was planning legal action.“The authorities ought to have carried out preventive maintenance during the summer months in anticipation of the monsoon. Their failure to do so is causing accidents and is also considerably slowing down traffic in different parts of the city,” he said.Making matters worse, several damaged and missing slabs on city roads have been left unattended, posing grave danger to motorists and pedestrians. The situation in much of the city has been further aggravated by non-existent or dysfunctional street lights. Public spaces like the Vyttila Mobility Hub and the roads leading to it are also ill-lit, making them ideal spots for drug peddlers and other anti-social elements. Commuters would be better off shifting to the Kochi Metro to ensure a safe, reliable and comfortable ride, he added.
