Delay in road restoration irks commuters in Nagercoil

The Hindu

16 hours ago

Motorists commuting through most roads in Nagercoil Corporation limits often experience a bumpy ride, primarily due to the roads dug up for infrastructure development works like Underground Drainage System (UGDS) and ongoing drinking water projects.
These works often resulted in the delay in road restoration. In several areas, the patch work carried out is of poor quality, which usually washes away after even a brief spell of rain.
Due to the ongoing drinking water project, people are struggling with the stretch from Kottar to Malik Dinar school, which has been dug up and left unrestored. As one of the key commercial corridors within the corporation limits, the condition of the road has irked the commuters.
Divakaran, an autorickshaw driver said that major infrastructural work like this should ideally be undertaken during summer vacation. Highlighting the poor condition of the road near the St. Joseph Convent Higher Secondary School, he added, 'It has become extremely rough during the school hours in morning and evening, as the vehicles are forced to travel on these non motorable roads.'
In the case of UGDS work, the project is being developed at a cost of ₹129 crore, with the UGDS network spanning 1,15,923 meters with 4,667 manholes, a pumping station at Vadiveewsaram and a sewage treatment plant at Valampurivilai dumping yard. However, of the 52 wards in the corporation, the work has been completed in only 17 wards, officials said.
Syed Meeran from Elankadai pointed out that several manholes are not aligned with the road surface and pose a significant risk to commuters. 'The manholes must be levelled equal to the roads. But in this area many are few inches below the surface, particularly in the middle of the road.' Mr. Meeran added that the officials should ensure all restoration and development works do not pose safety risk to road users.
While several councilors have been actively urging the government to speed up the UGDS work and road restoration, the work still progresses at a snail pace in many of the city, residents charged.
Meena Dev, a BJP Councillor from Nagercoil Corporation said the UGDS project has been ongoing in the corporation for more than seven years, which definitely needs to accelerate its speed. She noted that many corporations which had begun after Nagercoil had completed the project.
'If the road has been dug up in an area, it has to be completely restored before moving to another area. But here the contractors are moving from one place to another place without complete restoration,' Ms. Meena Dev added.
Speaking to The Hindu, Nagercoil Corporation Mayor R. Mahesh said that orders have been issued for the new road from Anna Bus Stand and preparatory works have already commenced. He added that the ongoing project for drinking water from Poigai dam, under the AMRUT scheme is underway. 'The UGDS works had been completed in 17 wards and other wards will commence shortly,' he noted.