Kozhikode: Official apathy has ghat road caught up in snarls

KOZHIKODE: The high-level meeting of the district collectors of Wayanad and Kozhikode along with other top officials of various departments held on Oct 13 to ensure speedy repair of the Ghat Road is yet produce results on the ground. The meeting resulted in a ban on parking in the ghat section from November 1 to expedite the repair of the hairpin bends.  The traffic through this part of National Highway had come to a halt for an entire day when it washed away in heavy rain in September.

Traffic blocks continue to haunt the passengers, and parking vehicles create blockade along the ghats. The volunteers of Churam Samrakshana Samithy says that they cannot serve round the clock as the curves that were repaired temporarily dumping quarry waste have developed potholes once again. 

"It was to be repaired on a war-footing. But so far no steps were taken," said Arif Muhammed, a passenger. "The district administration is already in touch with the NH authority which is in charge of the repair of the ghat section," Kozhikode district collector U.V. Jose said. "We expect the order to repair two seriously damaged bents within no time."