Efforts on to clean Underpass ..
The Coimbatore Corporation has begun efforts to make the Somasundara Mill underpass usable. For long, stagnant sewage and a thick layer of silt have rendered one of the two lanes in the underpass unusable for traffic.Corporation sources said on Monday that there was so much of sewage in this portion of the underpass that removing the silt was difficult. Quoting officials, Mayor R. Venkatachalam said mud would be put on the silt so that it could be easily scooped out of the underpass. The Mayor explained that for many years the underpass had silt depositing in it because of rainwater bringing mud from the slope along the rail over bridge. The Corporation then provided a concrete lining on the slope to arrest the erosion. Yet, mud from the sloppy Kaleeswara Mill Road kept accumulating in the underpass.The Corporation’s first task was to put the underpass to use by removing the silt even as it would try and find a way to plug the sewage leak. At present, boulders blocked either ends of one lane to warn motorists that it was not usable. Major repair works could not be taken up because of the Lok Sabha elections.
The underpass provided an easy access to areas such as Kattoor and Ramnagar from Brooke Bond Road. Those who wanted to reach Dr. Nanjappa Road could use this underpass without having to take the Avanashi Road Flyover. But, only two-wheelers, autorickshaws and cars could use the underpass.
Corporation sources agreed that keeping this underpass in good condition became all the more important now because two-wheelers could not take the flyover but only the subways below. And, it was easy for these vehicles to get into Kattoor and Ramnagar if the Somasundara Mill underpass was in a good condition.This was the only underpass that remained in poor shape throughout the year, while the ones at Lanka Corner, Kikani School ran into the problem of flooding only during monsoon. The Corporation said that the renovated underpass at Sivananda Colony was the only one that remained problem-free now even during rain. All the four underpasses served as links between the eastern and western parts of the city.
