Drivers angry over delay in paving roads dug for drainage project
Coimbatore: Some of the roads dug for laying pipes for underground drainage (UGD) works in Coimbatore city have not yet been properly covered. Such roads in the Kavundampalayam-Vadavalli-Veerakeralam (KVV) areas require immediate attention, especially from the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC). Meanwhile, motorists claimed that the dug-up stretches of the roads were covered with just sand and soil instead of wet mix concrete and this posed a danger to them.
Even though the Kurichi-Kuniyamuthur UGD project work started several years ago in Coimbatore city is yet to be completed, the civic body has started the UGD project work in KVV areas. Recently work has been started on some roads in Kavundampalayam area.
Roads are being dug using earthmovers for installation of pipelines, machine holes and construction of UGD chambers. However, after completing the work the officials are filling the roads with mud and red soil instead of wet mix or construction debris. This has led to many accidents as people riding two-wheelers lose their balance and fall.
The road to 3rd Cross Street of Thendral Nagar at Kavundampalayam in Ward 17 in the west area of the city was completely dug up for the UGD project works. After completing the work, the entire stretch was filled with red soil, posing a hazard to motorists.
“Our entire road now looks like a mini desert, thanks to the CCMC officials who have dumped tonnes of soil and sand on the road. After digging and drilling the road right, left and centre, the CCMC personnel, instead of filling the road with wet mix or construction debris, filled it with red sand,” said S Sundar, a resident of Thendral Nagar.
“It is difficult to use two-wheelers on this route as they slip on the unpaved path. Additionally, road mud spread to homes throughout Third Cross Street in Thendral Nagar. “The road has been abandoned for months with no solution in sight.”
A CCMC official from the engineering section told TNIE that they have not received any complaint yet and will investigate it soon. CCMC commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran said, “As soon as the UGD work is completed, a little soil is put on the road dug for the work and then water is poured for the next few days.
The road is abandoned for at least seven days to begin patchwork or road work. After a week, concrete mixture is poured over the broken road to repair it. I will immediately investigate this issue in Thendral Nagar and take immediate action.
