THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finally, the long-pending pleas of shopkeepers along the Chalai-Kothuval stretch have fallen on the right ears. The renovation works on the dilapidated narrow road have begun. The roads have long been left in a deplorable state with no kind of construction works undertaken on the stretch for a long time.The decision to begin the repair of the road follows a recent request submitted to the Transport Minister V S Sivakumar by the shopkeepers of Kothuval street. The shopkeepers had pointed out how the condition worsened during rainy season and eventually affected their sales. The road being a narrow one, lorries had declined to enter the road and unload the goods on the street. Also the waste water from the adjacent fish market would fill the potholes and spill over the blocked drainage further worsening the affairs during the rainy season.The renovation works will cover the roads from Chalai bypass to Power House which also includes Kothuval road. Following the repeated requests of the shopkeepers at Chalai, Transport Minister Sivakumar had asked the officials to inspect the roads and initiate the tarring works soon. The materials were unloaded on the stretch on Friday. The office of the PWD executive engineer said in a press release that the tarring and other minor repairs will be completed within a month. The construction and maintenance works of the drainage will also be undertaken along with road repair and will be completed within two months.Few weeks back, the shopkeepers at Chalai-Kothuval stretch had shut down their shops and staged a one-day fast demanding immediate repair of the roads and clearance of the blocked drains. Although the Minister had then promised action within 15 days, no step was taken; forcing the shopkeepers to openly express their discontent over the failure of the Minister in keeping his word.
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