KMRL seeks safety audit of roads in metro corridor.

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has directed the metro’s safety consultants to do a safety audit of roads along the Aluva-Pettah metro corridor, following recent’s fatal accident near a work site at Kalamassery on NH 47.

A senior citizen was run over by a lorry after he lost control of his bike and fell on the road while negotiating a bad patch of the road near the metro work site. 'They have been asked to submit a report in three days’ time, so that we can tell DMRC to do speedy repair works,' KMRL sources said.

In the meantime, DMRC has directed the two contractors engaged in Kochi Metro’s civil works to urgently repair and restore damaged roads near work sites, following Monday’s fatal accident. Kochi Project Director of DMRC, Dani Thomas said that instructions have been issued to L&T to relay damaged portions of roads in Kalamassery and near international stadium in Kaloor using concrete blocks to ensure smooth and safe movement of vehicles.

The instruction has been issued following public outcry over the accident, which followed yet another fatal accident in May involving a two wheeler rider near the same ill-maintained spot in Kalamassery.

KMRL sources said that they had in April sent a letter to DMRC to speed up resurfacing of damaged roads in the metro corridor well before the monsoon, to prevent accidents and traffic snarls. 'The two civil contractors are duty bound to ensure safe and motorable roads along metro corridor all through the construction phase, as mentioned in the agreement. The expense for maintaining roads has been included in the contract.'

Many parts of metro corridor in Edapally, Kaloor and SA Road are in bad condition and must be repaired soon.


THE HINDU