Ooty: The Charring Cross bus stop area in this hill town along the Coonoor road, the gateway to this tourist town from Coimbatore side and part of Ooty-Coimbatore NH, always bears the brunt of the heavy rains, aggravated by clogged drains and road encroachments. The ultimate sufferers are pedestrians and motorists.
Stating that lack of application and the negligent attitude of the NH administration as well as that of the Nilgiris district administration is the reason behind this mess- Charring Cross bus stop area does not even have flood control means-, Mr. S. Kumar, president of the Rajini Makkal Mandram in Nilgiris, said that that over the past couple of years that area has turned into a mini-pool after every heavy downpour.
Water stagnates in Charring Cross bus stop area in Ooty. (Image: DC)
“The clogged drains, encroachments right from the Missionary hill road junction near the RTO office till the Charring Cross bus stop make things worse during the rains, as the heavy flow of water on the road and stagnation of storm water along with slush make walking tough for pedestrians and for those waiting for buses there. It is even difficult to commute on the footpath along this road,” he pointed out.
The need of the hour is the application of new-era technology for flood-control measures and to built culverts at wanton points across the road to drain the storm water into the nearby Kodapamund channel to ensure that storm water doesn’t play havoc with the traffic and pedestrians commuting on this road, Mr Kumar urged. The NH administration should form a task force to instantly remove the accumulation of slush on this road and near the Charring Cross bus stop. The height of the pavements along this road should be increased to check vehicles being parked on the footpath, Mr Kumar added.
