Coimbatore: Residents and community activists have called for prompt action from the municipal corporation to restore roads that have been dug up to facilitate work for the underground drainage and the 24/7 drinking water supply. Key roads in the city, including Nanjappa Road, Sukrawarpet, Town Hall, Cross Cut Road, Mettupalayam Road at Saibaba Colony, Nanjegounden Pudur and Edayarpalayam-Vadavalli Road, have been dug up extensively. This has resulted in increased accidents on these roads.M Devendran, secretary, Coimbatore district road safety association, expressed his concern over the corporation’s negligence and called for accountability from officials. “Over ₹500 crore was invested during the previous administration solely for the improvement of roads within Coimbatore city. However, following the change in government, substantial public funds have been allocated to these poorly planned projects. When the corporation excavates roads for the underground drainage system, it must ensure that ancillary projects, such as the installation of a 24/7 water pipeline and the gas pipelines, are executed simultaneously. This would minimise the disruption from repeated excavations and mitigate recurring financial losses.”Residents have also condemned the delay in restoring roads. Adhithya V, of Sukrawarpet said, “This road is very narrow as both sides of the road has been dug up, resulting in frequent traffic congestions. Two-wheelers find it exceptionally challenging to navigate, and there have been multiple accidents on the stretch.” He added that even the service roads adjacent to the old Avinashi Road flyover, a key commercial hub, have turned into an accident-prone zone due to heavy vehicle movement on the congested road. “The corporation must prioritise the restoration of these roads without further delay.”
