By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
The cloud of dust engulfing the small stretch of badly damaged road in Old Pettai has left the residents, traders, and road users exasperated.
The 500-metre stretch between Kandigaiperikulam and the Old Pettai-Tenkasi Highway has been a veritable dust bowl for the past 10 months. There has been a spike in the number of road accidents in this danger zone, besides affecting the health of the residents in the area.
“When this stretch was in the worst shape a few years ago, we were repeatedly submitting petitions to the Collector, but action was not taken. One fine day, the road was repaired in the midst of incessant drizzle, much to our surprise. We came to know that the Governor was passing this danger zone to reach the Manonmanim Sundaranar University for the convocation and hence it was repaired. So, we understood that we, the taxpayers, are worthless and only the people occupying highest offices are more important to the government,” said a teashop owner having his shop on this stretch.
He says all shops along this stretch had seen decline in their business for the past 10 months. “Ever since this zone became dusty, customers have stopped coming to our shops,” he said.
The policemen in the Old Pettai check-post said the road accidents had become routine on this badly damaged stretch. “Even though we have been repeatedly appealing to the Tirunelveli Corporation and the Department of Highways to repair or relaying this damaged road, officials have not inspected this spot and hence the fear of accidents continue to haunt us,” said the policemen.
