Thiruvananthapuram: Potholes make city roads hell

THIRUVANANTHAPURA: The city roads are full of potholes multiplying since the monsoon rains set in. With the festive season on the anvil, traffic is also at its peak where motorists are moving at a snail's pace due to potholed roads.

Kerala Road Fund Board filled them only about a month ago. The ones that got repaired recently will be in pieces by the time a few heavy vehicles pass over it.

"No amount of patchwork done can ever repair these roads," said an exasperated elderly auto-rickshaw driver.

Protests have been held multiple times for repairing various road stretches.

The huge pond-sized pothole at Ulloor Junction is a bane to the motorists.

With the traffic signal there, it takes ages for the motorists to reach the other side of the road, which leads to Akkulam.

Two-wheeler riders frequently fall into these holes, and it has become a common sight. Due to the frequent traffic jams, ambulances find it hard to reach their destination on time, often posing a health hazard for the patients.

"Last night they had come to cover up some holes further up the road. Also, there is an unauthorised building coming up near the junction," said a shopkeeper.

A portion of the road had been blocked off a month ago for the construction of the overbridge which only worsened the already terrible traffic.

More potholes are found at Kochulloor near Neerazhi Lane market. Driving on these roads is already causing severe back pain to motorists, especially two-wheeler riders. It has posed as a health hazard for pregnant women trying to get to the hospital, according to the locals.

"A few months ago, the mayor had gone on a cycle safari on these roads. Still, there has been no respite," complained another resident.

But a KRFB official told DC that their contractor lost one ton of tar after offloading it at a stretch due to rains.

"We are trying to complete the road repair work within the next week before the Onam holidays start," he said.

"On the Ulloor - Medical College stretch, we have to dig the road first deep in one-inch thickness and then apply wet mix macadam. It is the occasional rain which is playing spoilsport."