It’s monsoon: Potholes dot City roads again

It’s monsoon: Potholes dot City roads again
Deccan Herald

It has been raining for the last two months and the BMP is yet to use the new technology of asphalting to fill up potholes during rains.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) seems to be lost in its usual drowsiness during this monsoon also. Active monsoon rains over the last few weeks have ravaged the City roads and bumpy rides for motorists are only going to get worse in the coming days.

Hundreds of potholes have surfaced on almost all roads, while footpaths have been washed away in many places. Rubble and slush from potholes and mud dumped recklessly by Optic Fibre Cable companies and various civic agencies have only added to citizens’ woes.

Some of the worst-hit main roads are Church Street, Double Road, Bannerghatta Road, Murphy Road, Cunningham Road, Mysore Road, Lingarajpurm Road, Vijayanagar Magadi Road, Yeshwanthpur Market Road, Kammanhalli Road, Wheelers Road, Kuvempu Road and many others. But BMP is in a deep slumber, despite the fact that it has been raining for last two months and the condition of roads is getting worse by day. Actually, BMP has stopped pothole filling work, BMP sources told Deccan Herald.

Moreover, BMP terminated road maintenance contract nearly two months ago and assured to maintain roads on its own by using ‘water-proof’ asphalt during rainy season. In fact, BMP had demonstrated the new technology (Latexphalt and Emulsion) asphalt to be used to fill up potholes in rains. But the new technology seems to be confined to demonstration alone, as nowhere has BMP used it to fill potholes so far, sources pointed out.

Official sources said absence of Engineer-in-Chief and Chief Engineers is a reason why pothole filling work is stopped. “There is nobody to conduct inspections. Hence, all emergency maintenance works have been hit, sources added. Ever since the retirement of Rame Gowda as Engineer-in-Chief two months ago, the post has remained vacant. Similarly, Chief Engineer’s post in all three zones are also vacant and presently, engineers of Superintendent Engineers rank are made in-charge.

When contacted, Mayor R Narayanaswamy said nothing can be done about potholes while it is raining. When his attention was drawn to the new water-proof asphalt, he assured that he will hold a meeting with the commissioner and take necessary steps.