Hundreds of people heading to Kumbalam railway station in Kochi face a messy and dangerous problem daily. The underpass beneath the NH bypass remains filled with muddy water even during the hottest summer days, while deep potholes on one side of the road pose a danger to motorists.
Flooded Underpass Hides Potholes
"As the underpass is always flooded, drivers cannot see the deep potholes that have formed on one side of the road," said Babu Thottavattom, an autorickshaw driver. Motorcyclists are at the highest risk. "Vehicles get caught off guard all the time. One side of the road at the underpass which is filled with water is basically a trap. The locals have placed poles to warn the motorists," Babu added.
Persistent Issue Blamed on Poor Drainage
The issue has been persisting for several years, but no action is being taken, with Kumbalam grama panchayat and National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) blaming each other. "NHAI built the underpass and the connecting drain poorly. Since the infrastructure is built by them, they should fix the issue. We are writing to NHAI authorities, demanding immediate repair," Kumbalam grama panchayat president Razeena Salam told TOI.
According to her, NHAI built the drain to carry water to a nearby river, but the drain is too low. Instead of water flowing out, river water flows into the underpass during high tide, keeping the area flooded all year round.
Conflicting Responsibilities
When contacted, a senior NHAI official said they cannot raise the road because trucks would not fit under the bridge. They stated that the grama panchayat should take measures to mitigate waterlogging during high tide periods.
Pedestrians and Cyclists Take Risky Detour
Meanwhile, to avoid wading through the filth, many pedestrians and cyclists climb steep staircases to the NH bypass above and then dodge high-speed traffic to cross the road before descending stairs on the other side.
