Intimidation by contractors on strike is hampering PWD’s road repair works, though the deadline set by District Collector M.G. Rajamanickam expired on Monday.
A senior PWD official said gaping potholes at places like Aluva, Kalady and HMT Junction were repaired on Saturday and Sunday night, when there was no rain. “A few contractors who were willing to take up government works deployed workers at work sites in Vyttila-Pettah Road, Mattancherry etc.,. But henchmen of contractors who are boycotting government works threatened them, following which work was abandoned.”
On Saturday, District Administration assured police protection for works in case there was any threat. A week ago, the Collector had warned of slapping criminal charges against officials concerned in case roads were not repaired by Monday. PWD Minister V.K. Ibrahim Kunju too, had directed officials to complete road repairs on a war-footing.
At an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Monday, it was decided that DMRC has to repair damaged roads on either side of the Aluva-Vyttila Metro corridor in ten days. Metro contractors are contractually obliged to repair roads on either side of the metro corridor.
PWD Minister V.K. Ibrahim Kunju will convene a meeting at Aluva Guest House on Tuesday to chalk out plans to repair roads damaged in Kalady and other parts of the district.
DMRC begins work The DMRC has taken up repair works of roads on either side of Aluva-Vyttila metro corridor, though it is dependant on PWD contractors for the same. An official of the agency said filling of potholes on damaged parts of Deshabhimani Junction-Kacheripady road was over. Repairs of Kadavanthra will be done on Monday night, followed by MG Road.
The agency will also begin repairing battered portions of Kalamassery-Edappally NH 47 from Monday night. “Most of the big potholes have been repaired and pothole filling will be over in a few days. Resurfacing will take another fortnight,” sources said.
Officials associated with repair works said inadequate drainage, in some cases no drains, in the vicinity, are responsible for roads getting damaged in rain. NHAI is yet to complete pothole filling over Edappally-Aroor NH Bypass, despite two days sans rain. The Collector had threatened to stop toll collection if NHAI failed to repair damaged parts of the Bypass.
Kochi Corporation has not begun full-fledged repairs over damaged roads, despite traffic snarls and accidents.
