A. Harikumar
It doesn’t need expert consultants to find what ails the development of roads in Kerala which are narrow, congested and accident prone. Though not involved in the policy making, the road users have a fair idea of what scuttles the development of roads in Kerala including national highways and have a solution too.
That was explicit in the responses on the Facebook page of Kerala PWD minister P A Muhammad Riyas. A couple of days ago Mr. Riyas announced the commencement of repair works on Balramapuram-Vazhimukku-Kaliyakkavila stretch of the national highway in a Facebook post, The public responded enthusiastically. While they thanked the dexterity and pro-active policy of the minister, they reminded the minister that the need of the hour is widening of the road; not just maintenance of existing road. Most importantly, the comments of the public revealed the appalling misgovernance in the roads sector, and inordinate delays that mark projects in the state too.
Inordinate delays; lack of vision
The crux of the grievances made by the public is inordinate delay in the road construction and the lack of vision in road development. The failure to widen the road considering the traffic density through the national highway and lack of vision while framing policies for road development are troubling commuters, they said. It’s true the present minister cannot be blamed for the ills and so they expressed the hope that Mr Riyaz as the minister will show the will power to implement a meaningful solution to the woes of road users.
The minister detailed his initiatives in the development of roads in Kerala, which are often criticised as narrow and congested. He said MLAs C.K Hareendran representing Parassala ,and K. Ansalan who represents Neyyattinkara had brought the plight of the road before him right from the days he took charge, and as the minister he had asked officials concerned to find a solution. Renovation work has begun and it is done during the night to minimise obstacles to the free flow of traffic during daytime, noted Mr. Riyaz. He congratulated officials of NHAI for immediate action.
Public grievances
Hareesh PR Nair, an engineer recounted that it took more than 10 years to complete Karamana-Kodinada stretch of the NH. Against that backdrop, the development of the 20-kilometre-long Balaramapuram-Kaliyakkavila stretch could take 20 years. He wanted a comprehensive development of Balaramapuram junction considering the possible spike in traffic resulting from the development of Vizhinjam deep sea port. Underpasses or flyovers are needed to untangle the future bottlenecks, he said. Another person E V Manu also stressed on the need for building underpass or flyover at Balaramapuram junction. At present bus shelters are being constructed unscientifically and bus bays need to be constructed at least 100 metres away from the busy junction, he added. Traffic rules should be strictly implemented on the highway and lane traffic should be made mandatory, he said.
Another person Anil Devan pointed out that the government has failed to acquire land along the 1.5 kilometre long Kodinada-Vazhimukku stretch yielding to the pressure of a few politicians and traders against land acquisition. He says that while the majority of landowners have given their consent for land acquisition, a few people oppose it to protect their vested interest. Land acquisition survey has been subverted and it would take many more months to complete it. Eventually, it would take years to complete the widening, he notes.
