Ponnagar residents in Trichy reel under bad roads, open drains

Trichy: Residents of Ponnagar in ward 55 of Trichy corporation are dealing with bad roads and open drains threatening the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders.

Though the authorities implemented some solutions, residents said that the hasty work fails to eliminate their hardships and fears.According to residents, an open drain on the main approach road of Ponnagar locality passes on the same level as that of the carriageway without any safety kerb, making two-wheeler riders and pedestrians slip inside the drain at night.Roads in Ponnagar, Selva Nagar, and Nakshatra Nagar damaged for the 24X7 drinking water project were not restored too.

While residents were promised that the local body shall relay the roads before the assembly election, residents still struggle with the potholes ridden roads.“After we complained, the local body hastily installed a few flexible spring poles to caution commuters about open drains, but those are insufficient. I invested my own money and installed additional reflectors near drains,” N Prasannam, a resident of New Selva Nagar said.

Though speed breakers were installed to slow down vehicles, residents said their locations were wrong. They sought the drains to be covered with removable RCC slabs so that people will not fall.“I will conduct an inspection in the ward and insist officials take up proper corrective work,” mayor Mu Anbalagan said.