The battered roads leading to the Vellakinaru-Saravanampatti railway level crossing in Coimbatore have been repaired, bringing relief to the thousands of motorists who had long faced inconvenience and safety risks. The resurfacing was done after significant pressure from local residents and continuous petitions to railway authorities.
The issue had been ongoing for months. Locals, particularly those in the Podanur area, had repeatedly voiced concerns about the poor condition of the roads, filled with large potholes that caused accidents and heavy traffic jams, particularly during peak hours. With an average of 3,000 vehicles crossing the stretch daily, the road’s deterioration had become a significant problem. Traffic congestion often stretched for over a kilometre, causing delays and posing dangers to commuters.
M. Devendran, Secretary of the Coimbatore District Road Protection Committee, recalled how the committee had approached the Railway Assistant Divisional Engineer in Podanur several times since September 2024. Despite these repeated requests, there was initially no response from the railway authorities. This only added to the frustration of local residents who had to endure unsafe driving conditions. The breakthrough came after the public petition gathered significant support, including signatures from concerned citizens. The railway authorities, in response to mounting pressure, committed to fixing the roads. On January 9, 2025, the potholes were filled with concrete, and traffic was temporarily diverted to the nearby Urumandampalayam route while repairs were carried out.
Locals are relieved by the timely intervention, but many still feel that the problem could have been addressed sooner. As Devendran pointed out, the absence of a timely response from the authorities contributed to a situation where commuters had to endure not just long traffic jams but also an increasing number of accidents. For residents like Pradeep Kumar, a daily commuter, the repairs come as a welcome change. “It’s been a nightmare driving on these roads for months. I’ve seen several accidents happen, and it’s only because the roads were in such bad shape,” he said. “Hopefully, this repair work will be maintained, and we won’t have to face the same issues again.”
However, while the repairs are a relief, many still feel that road safety and infrastructure maintenance need more attention. The repair of these roads comes at a time when the nation is also grappling with broader issues of road construction delays, particularly due to land acquisition problems. A report by Deloitte’s Bhavik Damodar highlighted that delays in land acquisition were slowing down the overall pace of road construction, with many expressway projects facing similar hurdles. This situation underscores the urgent need for better road safety measures and efficient responses from authorities to address infrastructure problems. With significant investments earmarked for road projects in the 2024-25 Union Budget, there is hope that the pace of road repairs and new developments will accelerate across the country. For now, residents of Podanur and surrounding areas are breathing easier, knowing that the immediate road safety issues have been addressed, thanks to the power of collective action and public pressure.