Water pipelines, electric cables hinder drain repair work at Stadium Junction

Kozhikode: Drain repair at Stadium Junction has caused traffic congestion due to blocked entrance. Work began in June after waterlogging, but was found to be faulty. Officials found cosmetic work done above existing drain. Repair work hindered by KWA pipeline burst and electric cables.

The drain repair work at Stadium Junction has turned out to be a never-ending process and a headache for motorists. One half of the entrance of the Stadium-Puthiyara Road has been blocked to facilitate the repair work causing traffic congestion on the stretch, especially during peak hours.

The repair work began in June after the junction was waterlogged despite the presence of the much-hyped stormwater drain. It was found that the construction of the drain was faulty and the work undertaken were more cosmetic than practical.

An inspection by officials of the Corporation, Public Works department, and the Uralungal Labour Contractors’ Cooperative Society found that the cosmetic work was done above the existing drain as part of the City Roads Improvement Project. The slabs of the existing drain were blocking water flow.

Meanwhile, the repair work is not progressing well owing to the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) pipelines and electric cables underneath. The pit dug as part of the repair work was filled with water on Monday after the KWA pipeline burst. Though the water was pumped out, the work could not be continued, thanks to electric cables that posed a risk to workers. Despite the Kerala State Electricity Board’s claim that the cables were two metres underground, they were exposed at a depth of one metre.