When official alibis outnumber potholes

When official alibis outnumber potholes
Deccan Herald

Riding or driving on the Begur main road, located off Hosur Road, is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. For the wrong reasons, though. The so-called road is riddled with crater-like potholes and ditches that one takes it at risk to his/her limb, if not life.

The road reminds one of a dirt track in a motor race. Motorists struggling to make their way through on the slushy and slippery road is an everyday spectacle, one that reminds you of a dirt track race. The road is ‘strategically located’, alright, on the ‘brim’ of the Electronic City corridor, and houses the 1,200-year-old Begur Naganatheshwara Temple (which even contains proof of the City’s origins). While the temple is long-forgotten by the authorities, the road is a different story altogether. “Now that the rains have begun, people ride right into the ditches, not being able to gauge their depth. Last night, a lady fell into a pothole and broke her left leg,” said the owner of Ganesh Condiments, on Saturday. And he has more to say about the road whose existence many suspect. He should know, for he set up shop here a year ago.

The temple, though now living in the attic of official memory, is famous for its five lingas, and devotees unable to go to Talakad for the Panchalinga Darshan, throng here by the thousand. “The approach roads are so bad that the surrounding areas get chock-a-block whenever the temple has a festival,” say temple authorities.


Looking away

Begur comes under the infamous Bommanahalli CMC, whose residents have long been complaining against the authorities for not providing any civic amenities. Or not keeping what is left of those amenities in shape.

But CMC Commissioner Venkateshappa is not one to be easily put down.

“We’ve laid tar on one stretch of the road. Work on the remaining 250 metres will be taken once the winter showers end,” he says, almost touchingly.

He goes on to add that Rs 9 crore has been ‘sanctioned’ for providing the various facilities in the CMC. But try asking him how many roads have been asphalted so far this year, and he starts to hem and haw.

‘Unwarranted queries’

Srinivas, the CMC Assistant Executive Engineer, is apparently more ingenious in warding off such unwarranted queries.

He hung up on this reporter who tried to contact him on phone after saying that he had left his office at 3 in the afternoon!

To be fair, he was helpful enough to add that he could divulge information only after the weekend holiday.When official alibis outnumber potholes
DH News Service Bangalore:
Riding or driving on the Begur main road, located off Hosur Road, is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. For the wrong reasons, though. The so-called road is riddled with crater-like potholes and ditches that one takes it at risk to his/her limb, if not life.

The road reminds one of a dirt track in a motor race. Motorists struggling to make their way through on the slushy and slippery road is an everyday spectacle, one that reminds you of a dirt track race. The road is ‘strategically located’, alright, on the ‘brim’ of the Electronic City corridor, and houses the 1,200-year-old Begur Naganatheshwara Temple (which even contains proof of the City’s origins). While the temple is long-forgotten by the authorities, the road is a different story altogether. “Now that the rains have begun, people ride right into the ditches, not being able to gauge their depth. Last night, a lady fell into a pothole and broke her left leg,” said the owner of Ganesh Condiments, on Saturday. And he has more to say about the road whose existence many suspect. He should know, for he set up shop here a year ago.

The temple, though now living in the attic of official memory, is famous for its five lingas, and devotees unable to go to Talakad for the Panchalinga Darshan, throng here by the thousand. “The approach roads are so bad that the surrounding areas get chock-a-block whenever the temple has a festival,” say temple authorities.


Looking away

Begur comes under the infamous Bommanahalli CMC, whose residents have long been complaining against the authorities for not providing any civic amenities. Or not keeping what is left of those amenities in shape.

But CMC Commissioner Venkateshappa is not one to be easily put down.

“We’ve laid tar on one stretch of the road. Work on the remaining 250 metres will be taken once the winter showers end,” he says, almost touchingly.

He goes on to add that Rs 9 crore has been ‘sanctioned’ for providing the various facilities in the CMC. But try asking him how many roads have been asphalted so far this year, and he starts to hem and haw.

‘Unwarranted queries’

Srinivas, the CMC Assistant Executive Engineer, is apparently more ingenious in warding off such unwarranted queries.

He hung up on this reporter who tried to contact him on phone after saying that he had left his office at 3 in the afternoon!

To be fair, he was helpful enough to add that he could divulge information only after the weekend holiday.