Dirty NH 47 of Kerala

I live in Kerala for the last several years and have a close watch on the NH 47.
This high way and its sides have changed a lot and it is now a place for commuters and vendors and not for vehicles. This is especially evident when we have a look at the innumerable fish vendors one either side of this highway. The vendors cut fish, meat and sell them to commuters and thus road sides have become very busy. The waste material is put on road side itself and stray dogs gathering there make the situation worse. In every day a dog is killed at one selling spot on an average and the upheaval created is beyond any reckon. Vehicle drivers often meet with accident because of the hit and miss running of the stray dogs. These are all happening because of the State’s neglect of protecting market places for selling fish, vegetables and essential commodities. The NH 47 sides are very busy with sellers and buyers and the whole area smell of decayed fish and meat waste..

A huge amount of digging work for Japan water supply scheme and optical fibre cables carried out at highway side made the road more dangerous. The owners of crane and JCB make a good profit by undertaking the work of lifting heavy vehicles trapped in huge potholes created by water pipe workers. When one drives on this busy highway of potholes, he could see the filth in the sides, scattered garbage, open drains, muddled traffic, dirty vendor spots and Beverages corporation outlets with queues extending to several metres into the road. I could not understand why the indifference from the Panchayat/ Municipality/City Corporation in providing basic facilities in what should be the most significant part State’s development.


By and large, I think the Local Self Government of Kerala is interested only in impractical matters like plastic ban, mosquito census and other silly matters and they are unable to see the terrible state of uncleanness of State Highways. They are obviously incapable of comprehending the vision of our forefathers who kept the street clean by marking separate spots of selling, buying, playing and other activities. And for them highways are meant not for dwelling but for vehicle traffic only.

K A Solaman