News
No owners, no repairs for broken road near stadium
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Gunawardane
The road leading to one of the main parking lots for provincial buses, heavy vehicles, and container trucks, adjoining the Sugathdasa Stadium, is in a dilapidated state and has failed to gain the attention of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).
Long-distance bus drivers, lorry and container truck drivers, and three-wheelers that use the road known as the Sugathadasa Stadium parking road, which connects the Bloemendhal (Cyril C. Perera Mawatha) road to Sirimawo Bandaranaike Mawatha, have noted the dangers the broken road poses.
Kumarawardena
During a visit by the Sunday Times this week, we witnessed large potholes and holes filled with gravel and concrete rubble. The surface is uneven in some areas, while in other areas there are nails and rocks that pose a danger to vehicles.
Vehicle drivers are finding it difficult to move vehicles round the potholes and uneven areas because of parked container trucks.
Three-wheelers and cars suffer damage.
Bus operators complained of tyre punctures, while the lorry and container truck operators complained of damage to shock absorbers and leaf springs.
Dhanushka
P. A Shantha Pushpakumara, who operates a private long-distance bus from Mathugama to Colombo, said that he uses Sugathadasa Stadium Park in between turns. He noted puddles on the road and tyre punctures.
Expressway bus driver Danushka Kumarasinghe, 41, who operates from Mannar to Colombo, said the bus had suffered damages. “When it rains, we cannot see the potholes, and the bus is damaged. We do not come here often because of this, but on some days we come, as we need an area to park the bus between turns.’’
He said that the road should be elevated and properly carpeted and should have a drainage system.
Lorry and container drivers who also use the Sugathadasa stadium park vented their frustration about the road condition and the damage caused to trailers.
Pushpakumara
A container driver, Herath Mundiyanselage Gunawardena, who operates 20-foot and 40-foot container trucks, mentioned damage to leaf springs.
Either the stadium authorities or the CMC should repair the road, he said.
M P Kumarawardena, an owner of a tyre repair shop who lives close to the road, said that the residents repeatedly asked the stadium, the Road Development Authority, and the CMC, but none would repair the road. Minor patching up is done when politicians are due to come for events at the stadium, he said.
Mr Kumarawardena said that during rains, the gravel patches get washed away and uneven potholes resurface. Many motorcyclists have fallen on the road.
Sugathadasa Sports Complex Authority Chairman G N Ranjith Wimalaratne explained that the Sugathadasa parking road could not be considered a private road, as it is used by people.
He said that although the road belonged to the stadium, a fence had not been erected, nor is it maintained as a private road. According to him, the road is used by people, and the CMC should maintain it.
He said that the sports complex authority has neither allocations nor authority for maintenance.
Colombo Municipal Commissioner Palitha Nanayakkara said that although the road is used by many, it is listed as a private road and does not come under council purview. But if users and nearby residents ask the CMC to acquire the road and maintain it, this can be done. However, a cross section of road users said it is up to the CMC to make regular checks.
Drivers find it difficult to move around potholes and uneven areas because of parked container trucks. Pix by Akila Jayawardena
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