Wearing a worn-out look

TRIPUNITHURA: The Tripunithura Mini Bypass,  described as a permanent solution for the severe traffic block in the town, was inaugurated with much fanfare in June. But now it is dotted by large potholes.Though the bypass which links Vaikom road to Ernakulam was meant to ease traffic flow, it hardly serves the purpose. Vehicles take more than half an hour to cover the short stretch.  Soon after its formal inauguration by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, vehicles began to ply on the road with high speed. Initially a traffic police was posted to control the traffic and ensure safety of the students of a  school nearby. But soon the entire stretch of the approach road from Kannankulangara to Gandhi Square was ruined.Now even in the absence of a traffic police  or a hump the vehicles move at a slow pace. If the condition of the two-month-old bypass is bad, the condition of the roads in Tripunithura town is worse off.The state of the roads is so bad that one may wonder whether the place is a municipality or  remote panchayat. It is a pity that the municipal authorities waited till the day before ‘Atham’ to temporarily fill the large potholes so as to ensure smooth movement of the floats during the ‘Atham’ procession. Unfit for Low-floor BusesThe poor state of the roads makes it difficult for low-floor buses to manoeuvre. Drivers of buses plying between Poothotta and Ernakulam have to hone their skills to cross the numerous potholes. In spite of the problems the authorities concerned remain apathetic, say some local people.The Public Works Department is busy with the  completion work of the toll booth on the new Mini Bypass. However, even before the formal opening of the toll booth, vehicles move at a snail’s pace on the stretch due to its terrible condition.