KOCHI: Open drainages and potholes in rain-washed roads are turning death traps for pedestrians and motorists in the city. Recently, a woman was seriously injured after she fell into a waterlogged drainage pit on Abraham Madamakkal Road. She had suffered fractures on both her legs in the incident.
Drainages some as deep as five foot are remaining open as slabs are either absent or damaged on many stretches. Absence of barricades or warning boards in roads where drainage and footpath renovations works are ongoing, is also raising serious safety concerns.
Abraham Madamakkal Road was one of the smart roads developed by the Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) in the city. CSML official sources have informed that the mesh was not fixed in the drain pipe to ensure easy flow of water to drainage.
The similar incident is imminent on Banerjee Road where CSML is carrying out developmental works without erecting warning boards along the footpaths and drainages.
In many places, drainage along the Banerjee Road from Menaka to MG Road Junction is lying open. At night and during rainy days, it is hard for pedestrians or motorists to spot drainages. A slight error in judgment could be fatal for the people.
“The incident in which a woman who was seriously injured should be an eye-opener for authorities who have failed to address the repeated pleas by the people to take steps to prevent such incidents, including erecting strong fencing on the side of deep drainage canals in various parts of the city,” said activist C P Ajith, who had recently approached the court against the poor conditions of roads in the city.
He has pointed out that the road renovations works are going on between Kalamassery and Medical College Junction and it is hard for pedestrians and motorists to identify the separation of road and drainages during night hours. In Palarivattom Junction, open drains are posing serious threat to pedestrians as contractors carrying out the road development works from JLN to Kunnumpuram Junction as part of the preparatory works for Kochi Metro’s Phase-II works are not bothered to erect barricades, warning boards and reflectors.
Mayor M Anil Kumar said that the corporation authorities would direct CSML authorities and other contractors to carry out development works on road and footpath with adequate facilities to ensure safety of pedestrians and motorists.
“The works are going on a war footing to finish it before the onset of monsoon. We will take proper measures to avoid accidents,” he said.
