AND NOW, POTHOLE TOURISM!

Ever wonder what we are paying those massive road taxes for in Kerala? Remember, you have to shell out more than Rs.15000/- as tax for fifteen years(!) when you buy a smaller version car. And what do we get to drive it on? A collection of potholes of all shapes and depths, connected by narrow strips of asphalt ( something resembling the waterway network of Venice) -the PWD and Local bodies of God's own country claim that these are highways and roads!


When you come to think of it, the potholes do not constitute the problem ; the 3”-4” strips of ‘road’ in between do! If our expert technologists could chip away these strips, thus ‘upgrading’ all the potholes into one huge single one, there would be no question of vehicles tumbling into the potholes or gutters-they would already be plying in them! We could then think of providing ramps at strategic locations where these vehicles can get out, and even paving these pothole bottoms with attractive interlocking tiles, thus paving the way for yet another mode of tourism in ‘God’s own country’-Pothole tourism! (Our blessed land could yet prove to be the one single vindication of the atheists’ contention that God does not exist –if He did, how could He tolerate this mess which ‘his own country’ has been reduced to?)

In a discussion (we are pretty good at that, aren't we?) on one of the TV channels featuring the Minister, Contractors’ Association representative etc, the Contractors’ representative revealed the startling fact that roads are still being built as per specifications which were used fifty years ago! Our experts have not yet realized-or do not want to accept - that to withstand the heavy loads to which they are subjected today, roads are required to be built of concrete –and reinforced concrete at stress points like junctions etc.

What was not revealed in the discussions, of course, was that only about 30% of the project cost is utilized towards the actual execution-70% being siphoned off to fill pockets right from the Minister at the top to the Department peon on the lowest rung. It is a bloody miracle that we are getting even these potholes and that the surface- which they have the temerity to call ‘roads’- doesn’t just give way beneath our feet all the time.

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When last heard, the High Court of Kerala, on 8th August, had described the condition of the roads in the State as ‘shameful’ and directed the Government to initiate repair works immediately and report progress on 14th August 2007. The usual lame excuses trotted out by the PWD –non co-operation from the contractors, heavy rains, lack of funds etc- were summarily rejected by the Court.

So, is there hope for the hapless public? Not as long as rampant corruption is a way of life here and capable, honest men are not given charge of the works. Until then, we will have to remain content with the occasional, grudging repairs, which give way again at the very next downpour-or even the advent of the next heavy vehicle. Meanwhile, these potholes can be counted as one among Kerala's (un)natural assets and one of its enchanting features for tourists to savour!

There may be yet another way; increase the frequency of our favourite pastime - hartals - to, say once every other day, so that our roads get a breather from the heavy traffic and last longer!

Read much more about fascinating Kerala - her natural assets, achievements, famous sons, pressing issues and problems......