Shabby repairs render ghat road unsafe

Atmakuru (Kurnool):  In view of over 10 lakh pilgrims−five lakh on foot and the rest on vehicles−visiting Srisailam for Mahasivaratri festival, repairs are being undertaken to 37 km-long Nallamala ghat road rather hastily without conforming to standards leading to taking place of road accidents. The road runs for a distance of 17 km in Kurnool district and the rest in Prakasam district.

The R and B department recently sanctioned Rs 30 lakh to undertake repairs to the road.   Contractors executing the road works ringed to swallow the funds. The Kurnool-Guntur road transports thousands of vehicles to Srisailam daily. The road passes through reserve forest area. The side berms should be filled with gravel. But the contractors placed stones and soil not following proper procedure.

The contractor did not care to adhere to consolidation, leveling and curing the side berms. As a result, vehicles passing on the road kick off a lot of dust affecting visibility. During the past three days, at least 20 road accidents have taken place on Dornala road. Vehicles numbering in tens get punctured daily.

The vehicle riders are facing problems in the forest area to get the puncture fixed. What action did officials contemplate to remedy the problem should be seen as the festival is drawing nearer and is barely five days away.