Monsoon showers leave MC road in ruins, commuters at risk

Kottayam:  It comes in all shapes and sizes - the potholes along the Kottayam- Ettumanoor MC road. The motorists ride their luck, negotiating the danger that lurks on the road. The authorities, it seems, have now given up, especially after a hurried repair exercise carried out weeks ago. The patchy work came undone in no time. Fresh cracks have appeared, and existing potholes have become deeper and bigger. Two-wheeler riders and autodrivers bump along, uttering curses and prayers. 

Within days of the advent of the monsoon, the MC road revealed the quality of work. Despite the road passing through some of Kottayam district’s busiest traffic hubs, authorities appear to have turned a blind eye to its deteriorating condition.

Earlier in July, authorities initiated maintenance work along the MC Road, filling potholes and retarring severely damaged sections. However, residents and commuters say that the effort was timed to coincide with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's visit to the district to inaugurate the Science City in Kuravilangad, another busy town along the route.

Autorickshaw drivers fume over the condition of the road. "Just look at the spots where they carried out the work, going through that feels like a rollercoaster ride," said Arun, an autorickshaw driver at Caritas Junction. "The road is so uneven that when we enter the retarred surface, the vehicle loses control. It's hard to keep it steady, and the passengers express concerns," he said.

Jimmy, a lottery salesman at Caritas Junction, pointed to the deep potholes that had formed near the bus stop at the busy intersection. "Even a place like this, right in front of major hospitals, is in such poor condition," he said, expressing frustration over the lack of proper maintenance. Jimmy blamed the government and the Public Works Department (PWD) for the bad state of the road.

Cracks along the road edges pose a serious threat to two-wheeler riders, especially at night, warned Gopi, a driver at Adichira. "If someone runs into one of those deep potholes, they’ll lose control. It could cause a serious accident," he said.

The danger worsens at night with heavy trucks and long-distance buses taking over the road. "We only see the potholes at the last moment," said George, a private firm employee in Kottayam. "Rain reduces visibility, and riding bikes becomes extremely risky. New potholes form every day, and we have to stay alert to avoid accidents," he added. 

The MC Road stretch from Angamaly to Chengannur is managed under a special contract called the Output and Performance-Based Road Contract (OPBRC), which is overseen by the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).

"The contractor, who won the tender, submitted a revised estimate last year, which was rejected by the KSTP. They submitted another one this year, but that too was rejected," said a PWD official. "Following this, the contractor requested to cancel the contract, but the KSTP has yet to make a decision. This has caused the delay in the work," the official added.

The official further explained that cancelling the contract is a lengthy process. The Kerala Highway Research Institute (KHRI) has submitted a report to the KSTP regarding the issue, and a final decision will be made based on its findings.

However, the KSTP Chief Engineer directed the contractor last month to proceed with maintenance work, as they are still under the existing contract. As a result, some repair works were carried out in early July.

"The contractor maintains that they cannot continue the work, as the potholes reappear shortly after being filled, and the ongoing rains make the situation worse. We have also requested further action from the KSTP, and at this point, there is nothing the PWD can do," the official added. 

KSTP officials said that pothole repair work was carried out earlier this month, but declined to comment on the poor condition of the road following the repairs. The contractor could not be reached for comment.

Onmanorama attempted to verify if the PWD's toll-free helpline is operational. We received a response, and according to officials, the work up to Puthuvely has been completed, and the team is now returning along the same route to fill the remaining potholes on the stretch. The work schedule will be revised based on the requirement.

The official added that the PWD has been receiving numerous complaints, but clarified that they are not the proper authority to address the issue. "We have limited funds to repair local roads, and if we spend on the badly affected parts of MC Road, the funds for other roads get exhausted. This is the challenge we are facing," the official said.

Moreover, they have been raising complaints with higher authorities since February, when the contractor stopped work due to the poor condition of the roads, but no action has been taken so far.