Thiruvananthapuram’s Statue-General Hospital road construction has left traders and locals unhappy

The Statue-General Hospital route was reopened to traffic after a five-month closure, providing relief to both drivers and shopkeepers. Traders and locals, however, are not happy with the hurriedly completed smart road work in advance of the March 31 deadline. Despite their enthusiasm at the road’s reopening, several expressed worries about its condition.

In November of last year, the commercially active area, which was brimming with enterprises, was closed to make way for the smart road project. The public was left in excruciating pain as a result of the excessive delay and several missed deadlines. Emergency vehicles traveling to the General Hospital often use this route. “They have covered the recently built drain without taking off the packed sand. In five days, they completed the task hurriedly. This demonstrates how much quicker they could have finished the road repair. This labor forced a number of dealers to close their doors. Numerous businesses lining this stretch employ thousands of people, according to a trader who requested to remain anonymous.

“The overall quality is deteriorated, and the slabs are irregular. These traders gave up a great deal to make this job possible. But in the name of progress, they have ruined a nice road. We continue to hope that once the full project is finished, the road will improve. We could see floods during the monsoon if they don’t unclog the drains, the dealer said.

The majority of the road networks and by-lanes connecting to the Statue-General Hospital road are disorganized. “I’m relieved that cars may now use the road. People are now beginning to visit these stores. However, the government has to act to improve the numerous poorly maintained byways in the region. The road repair caused us to lose five months of revenue. Only until the state of the other connected highways improves will the business resume as usual, a merchant said.

The last of the road construction will be finished in the next month or two, according to a Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) official. There’s just been one coating of tarred. Given that we intended to allow vehicles on the road, it could seem a little off. In the next weeks, a great deal of further work, such as sidewalks, handrails, and street lighting, will be finished, the official said.

According to the official, moveable slabs have been positioned every five meters to clear the drain.