Potholes mar hill roads in Katteri

OOTY: The way in which some parts of the recently repaired and black toppedroads in Katteri sector of the Ooty-Coimbatore NH is deteriorating and paving for bumpy rides, is certainly a cause for concern. It is feared that in the continuing rainy season this would damage further.

Stating that the NH administration has done appreciable works in repairing and reshaping the Ooty-Combatore NH in recent times, Mr. S. Anantha Krishnan, member of the Citizens' Forum of Coonoor, said that it appears that the NH officials failed to fix the water issues related to poor drains along the road in the Katteri sector as the over flowing water there has already dampened and damaged the road to a considerable extent causing potholes in a couple of places.

“The water oozing out along the slopes and from the sub-soil area is further spoiling the texture and stability of the road along the very fragile slopes there,” he noted. 

“The particular point in Katteri sector of NH, wherein the water is playing spoilt sport, is already a very congested and narrow road.  By establishing proper culverts and drainage channels, the water can be made to flow down the slopes without touching the surface of the road.

The NH officials should study the area in detail to chalk out a better plan to drain the water to save the road,” Mr. Ananthakrishnan noted. Eric Sampson, a cab operator here, said that in recent weeks water has begun to fill the potholes and remain stagnating there.  

If this problem is not fixed, the over flowing water will soak the road and render it more susceptible to landslide.  So, there is an urgent need to address this issue to halt water-logging and maintain the road for smooth travel, he suggested.