Only 1.3 km Left Untouched: Why Is Chittur-Tattamangalam Municipality Ignoring This Critical Road?
Good roads are not a luxury. They are a basic public service. When a road deteriorates, it affects safety, livelihoods, emergency response and the local economy. The Tattamangalam-Pallimokku-Kallanchira-Peruvemba Chungam Road is a clear example.
A Small Road with a Big Role
The Tattamangalam-Pallimokku-Kallanchira-Peruvemba Chungam Road is only 2.30 kilometres long, but it is one of the important local connector roads in the area.
It connects Tattamangalam with Peruvemba Chungam through Pallimokku and Kallanchira. The road passes through the jurisdictions of the Chittur-Tattamangalam Municipality and the Peruvemba Grama Panchayath.
This is not merely a residential road. It carries substantial traffic throughout the day, including:
- Large trucks and multi-axle goods vehicles
- Tippers and construction vehicles
- Goods carriers
- Cars and autorickshaws
- Motorcycles and scooters
- Cyclists
- Pedestrians
- School vehicles
- Emergency vehicles, including ambulances
The road supports local travel, commercial activity, goods movement and everyday access between Tattamangalam and Peruvemba.
The Road Had Become Almost Unusable
About a month ago, almost the entire 2.30 km stretch was filled with potholes and had become extremely difficult to use.
Drivers were forced to move from one side of the road to the other to avoid deep potholes. Two-wheeler riders had to slow down abruptly, while pedestrians were left with very little safe space to walk.
During rain, potholes filled with muddy water and their depth became impossible to judge. At night, the risk became even greater because of poor visibility and the glare from oncoming vehicles.
One Local Body Acted. The Other Has Not.
The road is divided between two local bodies:
| Local authority | Road length | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Peruvemba Grama Panchayath | 1.00 km | Repaired and currently usable |
| Chittur-Tattamangalam Municipality | 1.30 km | Still badly damaged |
The Peruvemba Panchayath has repaired its one-kilometre section. That part of the road is now in far better condition.
However, the remaining 1.30 km under the Chittur-Tattamangalam Municipality has still not been repaired. The difference is clearly visible and can be felt immediately when a vehicle crosses the administrative boundary.
Only 1.30 km
The municipality is not being asked to repair 10 km, 20 km or 50 km.
The damaged municipal section is only 1.30 kilometres long.
Considering the importance of the road and the volume of traffic it carries, repairing this short stretch should not be an impossible administrative or engineering task.
From the public’s perspective, the continued delay increasingly appears to be a matter of negligence and lack of priority.
Every Day of Delay Has a Cost
Poor roads are not merely inconvenient. They create direct economic and safety costs.
- Higher vehicle maintenance expenses
- Damage to tyres, wheels and suspension systems
- Greater accident risk for two-wheeler riders
- Increased fuel consumption
- Longer travel time
- Slower movement of goods vehicles
- Discomfort for passengers
- Possible delays to ambulances and other emergency services
- Greater danger during rain and at night
Citizens effectively pay twice: first through taxes and again through vehicle repair bills caused by neglected public infrastructure.
A Road of This Importance Should Come Under PWD
Considering the number of heavy trucks, tippers and other commercial vehicles using this route, a larger question must be asked:
Should this road continue to remain under local body maintenance?
The road functions far beyond the role of an ordinary municipal or panchayath road. It is an important connecting route carrying substantial commercial and public traffic.
The local administration should therefore request the Kerala Public Works Department to take over this road and develop it to a proper engineering standard.
A properly designed and constructed road should include:
- A strong and properly prepared road base
- Pavement thickness suitable for heavy vehicles
- Effective stormwater drainage
- Durable bituminous surfacing
- Stable road shoulders
- Improved pedestrian safety
- Regular inspections and planned maintenance
Temporary patchwork will not provide a lasting solution for a road that carries this level of heavy traffic.
Is There Already a Repair Plan?
If the Chittur-Tattamangalam Municipality already has a plan to repair the remaining 1.30 km, it should share the details publicly.
Residents deserve to know:
- Whether the road has been included in the municipal budget
- Whether funds have been sanctioned
- Whether an estimate has been prepared
- Whether administrative and technical approvals have been obtained
- Whether a tender has been issued
- Whether the work has been awarded to a contractor
- The proposed starting date
- The expected completion date
- The reason for the present delay
These are not unreasonable demands. They are basic questions concerning public money and public infrastructure.
Communication with the Public Is Poor
Another major concern is the poor communication between the municipality and the general public.
Residents often have no clear information about road works, water supply interruptions, waste collection, public projects, council decisions, tenders or project timelines.
People should not have to depend on rumours, unofficial WhatsApp messages or repeated visits to the municipal office to learn what is happening in their own locality.
Why Does the Municipality Not Use Social Media?
In 2026, there is little justification for a municipality not having active and properly managed digital communication channels.
The Chittur-Tattamangalam Municipality should establish and regularly update official channels such as:
- WhatsApp Channel
- Telegram
- X
- An updated official website
These channels could be used to publish:
- Road repair schedules
- Project approvals and work orders
- Water supply notices
- Waste collection updates
- Public health alerts
- Traffic diversions
- Budget announcements
- Council decisions
- Tender notifications
- Emergency information
- Contact details for responsible officials
Social media is not merely for publicity or political promotion. Used properly, it is a practical public communication tool.
Information Is a Right, Not a Favour
Citizens are not requesting privileged access. They are asking for information about decisions, projects and expenditure that directly affect their daily lives.
The Right to Information Act, 2005 is based on the principle that public authorities must function transparently and remain accountable to citizens.
Not every routine project update should require a formal RTI application. Public authorities should proactively disclose important information through their websites, notice boards and digital communication channels.
Information is a right of every citizen. Transparency should be the normal practice, not something people must repeatedly fight for.
Our Questions to the Municipality
- Is there a confirmed plan to repair the remaining 1.30 km?
- Has funding been allocated for the work?
- Has an estimate been prepared and approved?
- Has the work been tendered?
- When will the repair begin?
- When is it expected to be completed?
- Why was the Peruvemba Panchayath able to repair its section while the municipal section remains damaged?
- Will the municipality publish regular updates about public works?
- Will it establish official social media and digital communication channels?
- Will the municipality request the PWD to take over and upgrade this important road?
This Is Not About Party Politics
This issue is not about attacking a political party or an individual representative.
It is about road safety, public money, transparency and administrative responsibility.
Good roads benefit everyone. Poor roads endanger everyone.
A Simple Public Appeal
The people of Tattamangalam are not asking for a flyover or a four-lane highway.
They are asking for 1.30 km of damaged road to be repaired properly.
They are also asking for:
- A clear repair plan
- A realistic completion date
- Better public communication
- Greater transparency
- Long-term transfer of the road to the PWD
These are basic and reasonable expectations from a public authority.
Watch the Ground Reality
Watch the present condition of the municipal section in this dashcam video:
After this issue was brought to the attention of the Ward Councillor, he responded promptly and shared an update. According to him, the municipality has forwarded the matter to the Road Maintenance Division, and the tender process for the repair work is being expedited. He also clarified that the damaged stretch is a municipal road and not under the PWD, and therefore the municipality can undertake the repair work directly. He has assured that he will continue to follow up so that the work starts as early as possible.
I sincerely thank the councillor for taking the time to respond in detail. Responsive communication is always appreciated.
I hope the repair work will now begin without further delay. Once the tender is awarded and a work schedule is available, it would be helpful if the municipality could share those details publicly. Regular updates on ongoing public works—through the municipal website or official social media channels—would improve transparency, reduce speculation, and help residents stay informed.
We look forward to seeing this important 1.30 km stretch restored to a safe and durable condition for everyone who uses it daily.