more-in Lake View Road would be relaid since Smart Fruit Market work came to a close, said Corporation Commissioner S. Aneesh Sekhar. A tender worth ? 50 lakh has been floated and work orders would be issued in a week, he added. Motorists could finally heave a sigh of relief after months of agonising traffic, bad road condition and terrific potholes. This 1.7 km arterial stretch, from Apollo Hospital to the junction on Melur Main Road, was reduced to a single road near the park’s main entrance making it a tough task for drivers to go ahead with their vehicles. Roads on both sides were dug up to fix drainage pipes from the fruit market to the pumping station. Though the work was completed a month ago, an engineer from the corporation said that the earth would have to settle before they could lay new road. R. Dattha, a motorist who frequently uses the way, said that he has seen several accidents on the stretch in the last few months. “As the road has become narrower, there is very little space to drive. Accidents and heavy congestion are quite common during evening hours. Potholes and craters prevent free flow of vehicles. Accumulation of sand, gravel and stones of various size and shape on the road has caused slip, fall or skid of several two-wheelers. M. Veerakumar, a local hairdresser, says that there was a sharp decline in his business in the last few months since many people do not want to use the road and visit his shop. “It becomes more difficult when it rains because entrance to the shop gets flooded. We hope there will be a relief sooner or later,” he said.

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