THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The gateway to Ananthapuri has now been turned into a massive dust-ridden construction site. The construction of a huge building complex on the site of the old bus stand has already thrown traffic out of gear at Thampanoor. Now, without adequate warning, the entire stretch from Thampanoor to Aristo Junction has been closed to traffic for pipe-laying works as part of the JICA-aided drinking water scheme. Intractable traffic snarls have become a way of life in front of the Thampanoor Railway Station. The most commonly used road has been closed and four-wheelers are forced to squeeze along the road leading to Overbridge or take the flyover route. Road margin is further constricted in the Thampanoor area because of an unruly accumulation of buses outside the bus stand. What’s more, people wanting to move along the Thampanoor-Aristo Junction stretch park their vehicles right at the point where the road is closed, which incidentally is bang on the middle of the road. “It has been hell for people like us during the last four days,’’ said Ramesh, an auto driver caught in a traffic snarl. ‘’We are facing a lot of trouble here because of this work and travellers coming to the city, especially by train, are facing a lot of problems. The new traffic regulations have left them confused. If the work is not going to be completed before the rain, it will cause more problems in Thampanoor,’’ Ramesh said. The laying of the 1,118-mm mild steel pipes had started weeks ago and new traffic regulations were put in place promptly. The pipe works were supposed to be completed last year but, officials say, it stretched mainly because of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and, of course, the elections. Presently, only light motor vehicles are allowed along the Thampanoor-Aristo Junction road. Bus routes, too, have been changed. Starting points of buses towards Nedumangad direction, which was along the stretch, had to be shifted to the already-crowded entrance to the bus stand. Deep trenches have come up along the Thampanoor-Aristo Junction stretch and large vehicles, resembling dangerous reptiles in Hollywood creature-flicks, move around like zombies in the area. The thriving business area, where restaurants and other-state bus booking centres abound, now wears a near deserted look. Popular city joints like the Arya Nivas are witnessing a huge fall in customers. The Kairali and Sree Theatres, too, are ignored by film buffs. Officials, however, said work is progressing at a fast pace. ‘’They are working even in the night shift and hope it will be over within three days,’’ said Rajan, a security guard at Aristo Junction. A total of 300 m pipe has to be laid from Aristo Junction to Thampanoor by the end of this week and after that the road will be opened.
Comments
0 comment