Waterlogging due to NH work, rain leave residents fuming

Thiruvananthapuram: A single wooden log, shaped as a ladder with rungs, is the lone means of connectivity for over 70 families residing along the entire Kulathur-Kazhakoottam stretch these days. It seems, the log itself might collapse under weight of people using it.
Cars and bikes, caked in dust, have been idling in sheds in the gated compounds for the past few months.Every day, people make their way through slush, navigating through sparse dry spaces, before ascending up the ledge to the national highway that is being widened as part of Kazhakkoottam-Karode road development project.
With monsoon unleashing its fury, residents are demanding the immediate construction of service roads simultaneously with the widening of NH. Houses have been pushed to at least 5-6 feet below the highway being widened and this causes water to flow along the slope into their homes. "We can't even take our kids to school. The water doesn't subside and a portion of some compound walls have collapsed," said Retnamma, a resident. The area is almost inundated.
Sreekumar, who used to run an automobile workshop at Kulathur, has downed shutters for the past one week. He has a huge monthly rent to pay in addition to power bills. Business has slumped and he is now sourcing money to set up a temporary shed in front of his house at Kattaikonam. "I have a family to feed. The access has been completely blocked and there was no point leaving the workshop open," he said.
The residents are trying everything to deal with the flood-like situation. Concrete rings are being made, bricks are laid along the path, but nothing is helpful.
"The water level is such that it won't pass through the rings and bricks are easily submerged," said Anilkumar, another resident.
According to people the terrain was sandy in nature which ensured that no flooding ever occurred. "Once road work began, they unloaded fresh earth all over and when it rained, it became a mess. Besides a concrete pipe has been directed towards this stretch resulting in flooding," said Biju, a resident at Kulathur.
Medayil Vikraman, ward councillor Poundukadavu said that they will launch a massive agitation if service roads are not constructed immediately. "We can't go on like this. As a temporary measure broken bitumen from the road being widened has been spread across the path, but the people feel completely disconnected," he said.
An NHAI official said that service roads will be completed very soon. "As of now our focus is on the main carriageway. The work is going on without disrupting traffic. The work on service roads has also begun, we understand people's concerns and have requested them to co-operate," official said.