No need for international standard, just roads that don’t kill: Kerala HC slams poor roads

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has strongly criticised the poor condition of roads in the state, stating that there is no need for international-standard roads—only ones that do not cost lives. The court made this observation while addressing a batch of petitions concerning deteriorating roads in Ernakulam.

Justice Devan Ramachandran, who presided over the matter on Tuesday, remarked that Kerala must not become the leading state in road accident fatalities. He directed the authorities to carry out a detailed audit of the existing roads.

The court was responding to petitions filed after the recent deaths of young individuals in road accidents in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. Engineers responsible for road maintenance in Ernakulam city were summoned by the court to explain the poor condition of the roads.

In its defence, the government pointed to heavy rainfall as one of the causes of road damage. However, the court dismissed this explanation, noting that rainfall is not exclusive to Kerala and that other regions across the world also manage to maintain their roads despite similar weather conditions.

The High Court raised questions about the regularity of inspections conducted by engineers. It stressed that engineers must be held accountable for pothole-ridden roads and the resulting accidents.