TURIP road repair only half done in Madurai

Madurai: Tamil Nadu Roads Infrastructure Project (TURIP), launched two months ago to repair roads damaged due to underground drainage (UGD) work across the city, is only half complete, according to officials. This was despite earlier assurances that the project would be over by the second week of Feb.Madurai corporation has recently been attempting to revamp the city's UGD systems and lay new pipelines to prevent sewage issues. About Rs100 crore was allotted for TURIP, launched in Jan, to repair all roads dug up or damaged by UGD work.Officials said, logistics delays and the need to relay pipelines for certain UGD systems were the main reasons for the delay. "Because of pressure fluctuations, blockages or leaks, UGD systems in some areas have had to be re-laid, causing damage to roads that were already repaired and requiring re-repair," said a senior corporation official. He added that the project is now scheduled to be completed by the end of May. "The budget for the project has not increased, despite the necessary re-repairs," he said.Residents in some areas have also noted the poor quality of roads built under the project. "The Melur to Sivaganga road in Madurai was damaged within a month of it being re-laid," said Krishnamurthy, a resident who commutes on the road daily for work. He added that large potholes have come up on the road, raising concerns about the quality of the other roads repaired under the project.Corporation officials said the roads will be repaired if needed. "We are responding to complaints regarding potholes and resurfacing roads if there are any issues," he said. He added that once roads under TURIP project are complete, other roads in the city will also be repaired and resurfaced as needed.