Thiruvananthapuram: Electric poles left standing in the middle of newly tarred roads opened to traffic have sparked serious safety concerns in Palode and Vellarada.

On the Nandiyodu–Chellanji–Muthuvila Road in Palode and the Karakonam–Amaravila Road in Vellarada, road resurfacing and re-laying were completed without shifting the electric poles obstructing vehicle movement. However, after Manorama’s photographer captured an image of one such pole standing in the middle of the Chellanji–Muthuvila Road on Thursday afternoon, the post mysteriously vanished within hours.

Tarring work on the Nandiyodu–Chellanji–Muthuvila stretch has been carried out in a highly unsafe manner, with no proper road safety measures in place. A large pit remains open on Parappil Road near the Chellanji bridge, in the land surrendered by locals for road widening. Although officials had announced a 120-metre retaining wall to secure the area, work has progressed without constructing it.

Several houses stand dangerously close to the deep pit, and without the retaining wall, there is a serious risk of vehicles skidding off the road and plunging into the gorge.

The Kaduvappara region in Nanniyode panchayat has also become a danger zone. At a sharp curve along the Vamanapuram river, there is no protective wall in place. The road, being built at a cost of nearly ₹1 crore per kilometre, also lacks a proper drainage system, even in areas that experience heavy waterlogging during the monsoon. This has led to widespread complaints from residents, who say rainwater runoff now floods their homes. Ironically, the issues have arisen on a stretch being developed as part of the Ponmudi–Varkala Tourism Corridor.

Meanwhile, the electric poles along the Karakonam–Amaravila Road remain in place, allegedly due to financial irregularities. Officials of the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) have been accused of misappropriating funds meant to be paid to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for relocating the poles, and a vigilance probe is currently underway.

The project had sanctioned ₹1.98 crore for the relocation, but a significant portion of the amount was allegedly siphoned off. The KSEB has stated that the poles can be shifted only after receiving at least ₹1.42 crore. Despite repeated petitions from residents and protests by political parties, the issue remains unresolved.

At least two people have lost their lives since the reconstruction of this road began. Protesters have warned that unless the poles standing within the tarred surface are removed immediately, more lives could be lost.

Parassala MLA C K Hareendran said that efforts are underway to arrange the payment to the KSEB and assured that the poles will soon be relocated.