Lack of barriers a traffic peril

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four years after the school van tragedy that killed three children, the lack of side walls still remains a threat to the motorists who ride past Parvathi Puthanar canal.

There are also three dilapidated century-old bridges across the canal which have a potential to trigger disaster.

A scare was created on Thursday when  a van fell into the Parvathi Puthanar  reminding the people  of the Channakkara school bus tragedy. The driver who was alone in the vehicle managed to escape.

The side roads beside the Parvathi Puthanar are managed by the corporation and the PWD at various stretches.  While a sidewall is present on one side of the canal at a few locations around the corporation  roads, it is absent at other stretches.

With poor lighting, there have been numerous  incidents where two-wheeler riders plunged into the canal and a cyclist had died last year.

“Either the inland navigation section of irrigation department or the PWD can construct the short sidewall which will cost an estimated Rs 1 crore.  However, paucity of funds remains a hurdle.  The politicians say   that money is available under JNNURM funds or some other state project. As officials, we face severe flak from local officials when we visit the place,” said an irrigation official.

As per Vallakadavu councillor Shajida Nasar, three bridges here also are unsafe for pedestrians and motorists. The bridges at Vallakadavu, Puthenpalam and Muttathara have not been strengthened in spite of heavy vehicles to FCI and airport using the path. Hand rails are also missing at most spots.

“Recently, a nephew of Valiyathura councillor Tony Oliver fell and died near Muttathara Bridge. Health minister V.S. Shivakumar at  a function here had announced that the state government had allotted Rs 85 lakh  for building a walkway and constructing a side wall. Later,  the estimate was increased to Rs 1  crore and the work was stopped midway,”  Ms
Nasar said.