One often wonders about the ill fate of the roads in Kerala, while commuting by a vehicle or just walking through! It seems the misfortune is endless even if seen through the eyes of an optimist!
It can be found that the most affected roads, after the monsoon is coastal highways (most parts of NH 17 & some stretch of NH 47) and the reason is obvious.
Our roads are not designed to sustain our heavy rains!
If the most damaged sector of a road is inspected, it can be found that-
1. Proper drainages are not provided on either side.
2. Existing drainages are abandoned (this is a serious problem since authorities are having a drain in their records!)
3. Existing drainages are not cleared & cleaned to maintain the required depth.
4. Road level is same as or lower than the surrounding wet lands
5. Roads don’t have a gradient towards the drain.
The method adopted in similar conditions by other countries can be studied by our departments.
Malaysia has similar or more rainfall compared to our state.
Their method of constructing & maintaining their highways can be adopted or at least studied by our concerned departments.
Our roads shall be provided with drains of higher depth of at least 90cm with 3cm dia vents on vertical faces on road side, in order to have the water drained from soil underneath the pavement.
Also the width of the drain can be limited to 15 to 20cms so people cannot use the drain as their garbage disposal.
Roads shall be maintained a perfect level as far as possible.
But elevating the roads alone will not solve the problems of draining the rain water, as people on either side invariably raise their land higher than the road.
The only solution is providing drainage with higher depth (of at least 90cms).
This is not an expert comment on highway roads.
Hope, this is worth at least a study as it seems we are groping in the dark over the issue!
May the almighty bless our roads!
