Kochi citizens find patch works on roads an eyewash

KOCHI: With local body elections around the corner, the Kochi corporation is busy undertaking patch works along many major roads in the city. City residents are disappointed over shoddy repair and relaying works, and have lashed out at the local body. They call the works an eyewash.
“City roads are either completely relayed or repaired every year. Public funds are wasted by carrying out such shoddy work.Whether it is repair work or relaying work there should be a minimum guarantee of at least five years. Officials and contractors must be made accountable for quality of roads as well as the money that is spent on road works,” said Renjith G Thampy, social activist.
Citizens say if the corporation and other road owners in the city cannot construct durable roads in the best interest of citizens, they must place this fact on record before the high court.
C P Ajith of Suburban Travels said load-carrying capacity should be the basis for designing city roads. Currently planning and designing of roads are done at local level, where it lacks expertise. “There is a need to have a professional agency for designing city roads. Agencies like Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) or Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have the know-how, technical expertise and machinery to build roads in hostile terrains. The corporation and other road owners can seek their expertise in constructing durable roads in a region like Kochi, which receives heavy rainfall and is prone to flooding,” Ajith said.
He also said the existing court orders regarding performance guarantee for a period of five years need to be strictly implemented. Moreover, before relaying roads the contractor should undertake proper milling works to maintain road level and avoid flooding. It is pointed out that people traveling through the city need well- laid roads that do not cause damage to their vehicles or affect their health.
Noted orthopaedic surgeon R Venugopal said the innovations in the bike designs and seating contours of four wheelers and obviously the bad conditions of the roads have contributed to the surge in back-related issues in the young as well as elderly.
“The common back problems like intervertebral disc prolapse in the young and spondylolisthesis and spondylosis in elderly aggravate due to badly-maintained roads and due to travel by vehicles designed for international roads,” he said.