Coimbatore Uneven Roads Endanger Riders, Prompt Pleas for Full-Width Laying
Commuters across Coimbatore are raising safety concerns over recently re-laid roads that fail to match the original width, resulting in uneven surfaces and sharp height gaps that pose risks, especially for two-wheeler users. Key stretches like Brookebond Road and NSR Road in Saibaba Colony have witnessed wobbling incidents and parking difficulties due to partial resurfacing. Citizens and civic groups are urging that roads be laid edge to edge to ensure a uniform, hazard-free driving surface citywide.
Several arterial and residential roads in Coimbatore have been resurfaced recently, but commuters argue that the poor execution is undermining public safety. The Brookebond Road stretch between Chintamani Junction and Kikani School roundabout is notably narrower than its original layout. As a result, riders are navigating uneven height transitions between the old and new surfaces—an issue that has led to frequent skidding and loss of balance among two-wheeler users. In Saibaba Colony’s NSR Road, a poorly finished gap between the road and stormwater drain has complicated parking and caused multiple minor incidents. Civic activists argue that such faults stem from skipping essential pre-repair milling, which should level old layers before adding new asphalt. A senior consumer rights advocate stressed that riding hazards are often dismissed as user error rather than being recognised as avoidable engineering flaws. Citizens are calling for accountability and insist roadworks adhere to full-width resurfacing norms.
According to city-based infrastructure observers, reducing road width during relaying undermines public safety and contradicts basic design standards. Experts point out that failure to carry out milling before applying a fresh asphalt layer results in elevated road heights, which in turn forms steep, hazardous ridges along the edges. These ridges are particularly dangerous for two-wheelers trying to swerve or park close to kerbs. Locals have questioned whether the original road layout was incorrect or whether current narrowing practices are being used as a cost-cutting method. Consumer advocates argue that contractors are bypassing crucial groundwork to maximise profit margins while blaming riders for resultant accidents. Residents emphasise the importance of officials themselves experiencing these conditions on two-wheelers to grasp the safety implications. Although instructions for edge-to-edge relaying have reportedly been given by senior authorities, cost limitations—particularly for milling—remain a key hindrance, indicating deeper systemic gaps in project planning and funding disbursement.
The widening gap between road engineering guidelines and on-ground execution is drawing public criticism in Coimbatore, where residents are demanding safer, full-width relaying of urban roads. Inconsistent surfaces, height mismatches, and unfinished edges are compromising daily mobility, especially for two-wheeler users navigating the city’s increasingly risky roads. As civic pressure builds, authorities have acknowledged the issue and committed to reviewing current practices. However, without dedicated funding for essential preparatory work like milling, safety concerns may persist. To ensure long-term safety, residents and experts agree that road contracts must mandate uniform resurfacing aligned with user experience and engineering best practices.