Bangalore’s roads pitted with potholes

Bangalore’s roads pitted with potholes
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: It could well be a daunting task to find a single road in Bangalore without potholes, which compound infrastructure problems during the monsoon. In fact potholes make life miserable for Bangaloreans, especially those on two-wheelers.

It is a known fact that the Bangalore City Corporation, which is responsible for maintaining roads, has sufficient funds to fill potholes, but no inclination to do it. Its apathetic and perfunctory attitude comes to the fore whenever there is a rain in the City.

In the absence of streetlights, these potholes become accident zones during the night. Roads at Ulsoor, City Market, Kempegowda Bus Station, Kalasipalyam, Cantonement, Rajajinagar, Mahalakshmi Layout, Chamarajapet are notorious for potholes.

The existence of potholes is itself baffling. There are officials to take care of the quality of the roads after they are asphalted.

The condition of roads at seven CMS, which came under BCC control a few years ago, speaks a lot about the BCC’s negligence. Some of the areas like Maruthinagar, Kaggadasapura look bombed like the border villages between India and Pakistan.

Petty politics and the egos of local leaders play spoilsport. For example, Maruthinagar, which falls under the CV Raman Nagar ward, is yet to see asphalted roads even after six years. The residents of this area have to be extra cautious while riding two-wheelers since roads will become slushy.

‘‘If an MLA wants to undertake asphalting work, the Corporator doesn’t agree to do it. When the Corporator has the time to think of it, the MLA will be busy with other things,’’ says a resident of Maruthinagar.

One requires special skills to ride a two-wheeler on Banaswadi Road. It is full with potholes. Ulsoor Road is not immune to potholes either despite the local corporator Saravanan’s office being located on it.

‘‘If the condition of Ulsoor Road is any indication, one need not to think about other roads in Ulsoor, Jogupalya,’’ says Mani.

During the monsoon, motorists find it tough to use the Cambridge Road, thanks to potholes and clogged drains. There is nothing to revel about the condition of the road near Shivajinagar bus-stand. ‘‘Why do the officials concerned not initiate suitable action to end this menace?’’ asks Ramamurthy of Shivajinagar.

The main road of New Thippasandra also has potholes even though Shanthinagar MLA Raghu and his wife Prathima, who is a corporator of the area, use this road frequently.

Can Bangaloreans expect relief from potholes?