Potholed, ill-lit arterial roads, bridges dampen Kochi’s Onam

Festival shoppers have a nightmarish ride on Thammanam-Pullepady road

There is no let-up in travel woes of commuters and pedestrians in Kochi despite the Onam festive season, thanks to potholed and heavily encroached upon roads, bridges and footpaths in the city. The worst is the plight of Thammanam-Pullepady road, which was improperly restored after being trenched by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). The Kochi Corporation has done little to restore the stretch, although KWA says it had remitted the necessary funds for the restoration work. The result is that it is next to impossible to use one side of the notoriously narrow road, prompting motorists to use the wrong side. The corporation owns the crucial corridor and is responsible for its upkeep, although the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) is expected to develop it into a four-lane stretch. Onam shoppers and regular commuters are having a nightmarish ride through the stretch that provides connectivity between the NH bypass and MG Road, while pedestrians have to risk their life and walk.