PWD’s repair of road on Mattupetty bridge turns into a farce

Munnar: Potholes have reappeared on the road over the Mattupetty bridge in Munnar, barely a week after it was repaired by the Kerala Public Works Department (PWD). The repairs were carried out following the appearance of several potholes over the last year, which caused numerous accidents, mainly involving two-wheelers.

The police had banned traffic along the road and directed the PWD authorities to repair the road, considering the frequent mishaps. The repairs, which started on August 19, were completed a few days later. The bridge was opened to traffic after concreting.

However, heavy rainfall on subsequent days washed away the concrete, and potholes appeared again. Additionally, new potholes have been formed on the bridge, making travel more difficult compared to the situation prior to the repair work.

The iron bridge at Mattupetty was built a century ago by the British across the Muthirapuzha River to connect Munnar with Mattupetty and Devikulam. The bridge has granite pillars over which iron sheets and railings have been installed. Potholes began to appear after the iron sheets suffered damage over the years.