Potholes and Pending UGD Works Choke Traffic on Marudhamalai Road

Coimbatore: Ongoing underground drainage (UGD) works, compounded by heavy rainfall, have turned several roads in Coimbatore into a nightmare for motorists, with damaged surfaces, water-filled potholes and traffic congestion causing considerable inconvenience.

Vadavalli Road and Marudhamalai Road are among the affected stretches, where pending road restoration has made commuting increasingly difficult. Following the heavy rains that lashed the city on Sunday, several roads where UGD works have been undertaken remain damaged, with relaying and repair works yet to be completed.

On Marudhamalai Road, where UGD works are underway and some stretches have reportedly been completed, one side of the road remains dug up for the drainage project. The exposed and uneven surface has become particularly difficult to navigate after the rainfall, leaving motorists struggling to manoeuvre through the affected stretch.

In an incident near Thiruvallur Nagar on Vadavalli Road, a bus wheel got stuck in a pothole, causing vehicles to queue up and disrupting traffic movement. Motorists faced delays as they attempted to negotiate the damaged stretch.

Two-wheeler riders have raised concerns over the safety risks posed by potholes filled with rainwater, which conceal their depth and make damaged sections difficult to identify. They fear that riders could suddenly encounter these potholes, lose balance and skid, potentially resulting in accidents.

Residents and road users have questioned the pace of UGD works, pointing out that the onset of the Northeast monsoon makes timely completion of drainage projects and subsequent road restoration essential. They contend that the civic body should expedite the works and relay damaged roads to minimise inconvenience and improve road safety during the rainy season.

With festive holidays drawing to a close, the resumption of regular office commutes and school traffic could further aggravate congestion on the affected stretches. Residents fear that continued rainfall and unrepaired roads will make daily travel increasingly hazardous and time-consuming.

They have urged the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation to expedite UGD works, restore damaged road surfaces wherever possible and install warning signs near deep potholes and uneven stretches. They have also called for traffic police deployment at vulnerable junctions and congested locations to regulate vehicle movement and prevent accidents.

Residents say urgent intervention is necessary to ensure safer travel and minimise disruption as rainfall continues across the city.