KOCHI: With discontent brewing over the state of roads in the city, the Chief Minister’s announcement earmarking Rs 157.96 crore for the repairs and maintenance of damaged roads in five corporations, is expected to bring some cheer to Kochiites. Out of the total amount, Rs 74.42 crore has been allocated for Kochi and Thiruvanathpuram. The announcement came after the High Court’s direction that roads in the State would have to be repaired within three week’s time. This is the first time that the PWD is undertaking the maintenance work of the damaged roads in the corporation limits with special terms and conditions. Oommen Chandy also said that the maintenance work would be completed on ‘war footing.’The Kochi Corporation had already submitted a list of 13 roads in the city to the State Government. The Public Works Department will undertake the repair works of these roads under specific instructions.“We are planning to do tar patching on all the major roads once the rain stops. The repair work on the Chittoor road will also be completed soon,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Committee chairman Soumini Jain.Meanwhile, opposition councillor M Anilkumar said that lack of co-ordination was the major reason for the roads to still be in a bad state. “Though the corporation authorities have blamed it on lack of funds, it is actually the lack of co-ordination that affects the road works. Co-ordination, Prioritisation and execution are vital in executing road works,” Anilkumar, who was also the former Works Standing committee chairman said.He said that the corporation also did not do metal patching on damaged roads. “If the metal patching would have been completed, they could have gone in for tar patching during the 2-3 sunny days in between,” he added. Anilkumar also said that though the present Council had approved the roads to be repaired under the Plan Fund, the tenders for the works were yet to be floated. Soumini said that the inspection of the roads would be completed soon. “The State Technical Group has instructed that we should use 40 mm chipping carpet for our roads. But for these type of tarring, we have to use paver machines. Contractors were not ready to undertake the works of arterial roads by using paver machines,” she said.Saumini said that the civic body had obtained permission from the Technical Group to alter these specifications. “We have decided to do the works at 20 mm thickness. We hope to float the tenders for the road work under Plan Fund soon,” she added.
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