Inaction by Highways Dept: Cops fix potholes in Tirupattur to avoid mishaps

More than a year ago the construction of stormwater drains has led to the deepening of the potholes in the streets of the town and has posed as a risk for two wheeler riders and pedestrians. However, the repeated pleas by activists and trade associations to fix the road to the Highways Department received no corrective action.

Hence, Taluk inspector K Madhanalogan came up with an idea to fix the potholes while still being self-reliant. Based on the brainchild of Madhanalogan, the town police from traffic, law and order wings pooled in the money to hire tipper truck and an earth mover to fill up potholes in four main locations, all by themselves.

Speaking to DT Next Madhanalogan said, “The police closed potholes for nearly 60 metres.” The patchworks were carried out at a street near the weekly market on Tirupattur-Krishnagiri road and at Jinnah road junction. The works were also carried at Mariamman Koil street and near the TNSTC depot on the Salem junction in the town.

When asked about the reason for Madhanalogan’s novel move to carry out the chore, he said, “The pedestrians and two wheelers were finding it difficult to commute in this stretch and the stretch has even led to many mishaps. Even two days back a school girl was killed on the spot when she was thrown off a two wheeler and was run over by a vehicle from behind, while passing over a pothole.”

“It was then that I asked my colleagues to pool in money and they offered between Rs 100 and Rs 150 each. With the money we got some, we bought sand and did the work ourselves so that we were able to save the money involved in hiring workers,” he added.

The novel move has received appreciations from the people and has resulted in requests for a similar action on potholed roads in front of a police station at Vaniyambadi, 20kilometres away.