Motorists' ups and downs on 'cratered' roads
Colombo has the best roads but here it is like travelling offroad, we have to avoid puddles while keeping out of the way of vehicles. I hope I can take my son home safely
Most roads within Colombo and its suburbs, excavated for the laying of pipelines for water and electrical lines or repairs to sewerage pipes, have been left unattended or under- repaired, causing safety hazards and road accidents due to incomplete carpeting.
A series of roads near Bloemendhal, Madampitiya, Maradana, Fort and byroads near Norris Canal have been laid with new pipelines and electrical wiring, yet, the laying of carpet is not up to the standard of the previous state of the roads.
Area residents, motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians using the roads pointed out that failure to complete the road repairs had caused several accidents, and much inconvenience.
A bicycle repair shop worker at Bloemendhal Road, S. Musamil said the Water Board laid some new pipelines near his shop but, only half- repaired the road and left it uneven, resulting in a series of motorbike accidents.
“The pipeline is laid but the road is covered with sand and stones so, motorcyclists lose their balance when they suddenly drop into the rut,” he said.
He said that many people received injuries as well as extensive damage to their vehicles too, as a result.
Mr. Musamil added that he received several bicycles with bent spokes for repair following falls in the uneven areas.
Among the other roads left unattended are Vipulasena Mawatha, Hedges Court Road and in Fort.
On another road leading to the Accident Ward of the National Hospital, as many as 17 accidents had taken place in two weeks, due to an uncovered a drain across the road.
In front of Ashoka Vidyalaya the road has been covered but the carpeting not completed, leaving a gravel road with ruts and stones.
Sanka Kumara, a parent waiting for his son to return from a seminar at Ashoka Vidyalaya, said he had to ride his bicycle very slowly to the school.
He explained there are bumps and ruts in the road and therefore, riding the bike has become dangerous.
“Colombo has the best roads but here it is like travelling off- road, we have to avoid puddles while keeping out of the way of vehicles. I hope I can take my son home safely,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Water Supply and Drainage Board ( NWSDB) Chairman, Engineer ( Eng.) K. A. Ansar said they lay new pipelines and re- pipe water lines which are centuries old, using contractors. The areas with new lines are left without carpeting.
“We refrain from carpeting because road restoration belongs to the Road Development Authority (RDA) and the Colombo Municipal Council ( CMC), we are providing the roads to them soon after the pipelines have settled” he said.
Eng. Ansar explained that, after the laying of pipelines, roads cannot be immediately restored in order to check leaks, and to to see how the sand covering cushions the pipelines.
Meanwhile, CMC Commissioner V. K. Anura said that, earlier NWSDB and t he Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) labourers dug up roads for repairs and left them patched up.
He said that, in future, they will provide their labourers for excavation and re- carpeting of roads, after completing pipeline projects.
R DA Chairman N. R . Suriyarachchi said the CMC is in charge of road maintenance.
The Director ( Development) of Ministry o f Powe r and Renewable Energy Sulakshana Jayawardene said the road excavations at Bloemendhal Road and near Vipulasena Mawatha are done under the Colombo City Project.
He admitted they too excavate trenches to install tubing under the road, before the wiring is done.
“We have contracted private companies to dig trenches and install tubing. Then they are ordered to temporarily cover the trenches with gravel, until our Engineers fix the wiring,” he said.
“After the completion of the project, the CEB will do the final carpeting in every area temporarily covered with rubble,” he said.