Holes in BMP spot-the-pothole scheme

Holes in BMP spot-the-pothole scheme
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has recently announced a novel scheme to reward concerned citizens who identify potholes in city roads and bring them to its notice.

But experts term it as yet another gimmick that in no way would help improve the condition of our city roads.

While announcing the reward scheme on Saturday, the BMP has also ‘declared’ some major roads as pothole-free. But the conditions attached to the reward are making it a big mockery.

Firstly, no reward would be given to those who spot potholes in roads other than those, which are already identified by BMP as pothole-free.

In addition, no identified pothole must be smaller than 20 cm in length and width and shallower than 5 cm.

In other words, the BMP expects people to measure the potholes before bringing it to its notice and it also does not seem to be concerned about the potholes that do not fit into its scheme.

Though the crater-like potholes are more dangerous, the small ones, which are seen on many roads, also often put motorists lives’ at risk.

‘‘Why does BMP want people to identify potholes when its engineers can themselves do it? The scheme is just a gimmick and mockery,’’ said M N Srihari, an expert on urban transportation.

The BMP, he said, should take steps to fill potholes by following all the scientific procedures so that the roads in the city can see some improvement.

‘‘BMP does not follow any of the scientific procedures and that is the reason for bad condition of roads,’’ he added.

The new scheme covers 69 roads measuring 47 km in south zone, 42 roads measuring 29.53 km in east and 31 roads measuring 29.53 km in west zone.

On Monday, five people called up east zone chief engineer’s office with a hope to get the reward.

But the officials informed them that the roads on which the people have spotted the potholes were not covered under the scheme.

‘‘We will certainly reward people, who give us information about potholes on the roads that have been declared as pothole-free and also immediately take steps to fill them,’’ a BMP officer said.