more-in For over two years, city residents using the Vasantha Mill Road, off Trichy Road near Singanallur, have been avoiding the road after dusk. The residents either get home or reach Trichy Road before sunset or take a circuitous route to reach their destination. This has been happening ever since the Coimbatore Corporation dug the road to lay underground sewer lines. This has not only heavily damaged the road but also left it poorly lit, says P. Anbalagan, a resident of Iyer Layout. During the day, people use the road but the traffic is less than what it used to be. The Corporation digging the road has left it damaged, with potholes and resulted in water stagnation. As a result, not many road users know where the damaged stretches are and fall to injure themselves or their four-wheeler, he adds. What is worse is that the Corporation is yet to complete the underground sewer work after starting it two years ago, complains resident A. Soundararajan. As the footpath, too, is encroached, there is hardly any space for pedestrians. When it rains, the water fills the potholes and damaged portions leaving the road users clueless, he points out and adds that is yet another reason for accidents. The absence of street lights only adds to their woes, Mr. Anabalagan says. Pointing to a high-mast light at the Iyer Layout-Chinna Gurusamy Layout Junction, he says that last time the street light functioned was over two years ago. The fate of other street lights, right from the Trichy Road Junction to Neelikonampalayam on Vasantha Mill Road is the same. Mr. Soundararajan says that the area is pitch dark that it is like venturing into forests. Singanallur MLA N. Karthik says he has raised the condition of the road and many others in his constituency to the Corporation officials, but no action is forthcoming. He inspected the area on July 14 and will make another attempt to draw the officials’ attention. If it fails to evoke any response, he will have no choice but to protest along with residents. Corporation officials say it is true that the underground sewer work has taken two years but the civic body has asked the contractor to expedite the work. The target is to complete the work by this month-end and rebuild the road within the next two months. The Corporation has already sent a proposal to the State Government seeking money under the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Fund, the officials add.

Stay updated with all the Coimbatore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.