Once busy, road alongside Kannarampuzha River in Wayanad is a dangerous path

Pulppally: Even walking has become a nightmare along the road that once witnessed heavy traffic. The PWD road running parallel to Kannarampuzha River from Vandikkadavu, along the Karnataka border to Kolavally, has now turned into a stretch of potholes. Interlocking tiles were laid on the Vandikkadavu–Chamappara section, but all of them have come loose and more are coming unstuck in newer areas every day.

The bridge at Madappallykkunnu and the culvert at Vandikkadavu are in a dangerous state. Cracks have appeared beneath the Madappallykkunnu bridge, built by the district panchayat 20 years ago. Concrete has peeled off in several parts and iron rods lie exposed and rusted. During road restoration, the Public Works Department piled soil over the bridge surface,  reducing its height considerably.

Tar has worn off between Chamappara and Kolavally and the roadside has eroded into rivulets. Five private buses and a KSRTC long-distance service operate from Pulppally along this route, but the road remains flooded at Aishwarya Junction. The absence of roadside drains worsens the problem. Local residents and the panchayat have demanded urgent repairs for the 8-kilometre stretch. Motorists unfamiliar with the potholes often meet with accidents here. The Parakkadavu–Madappallykkunnu Road, connected to this route, is in an equally dilapidated condition.

The Kerala Water Authority had earlier dug up both sides of the road to lay pipelines, leaving many stretches stripped of tar. The roadside sinks further when vehicles veer off to give way. Drains and culverts are yet to be constructed along this section as well.