City battles potholes, lack of coordination

City battles potholes, lack of coordination


Express News ServiceFirst Published : 19 May 2010 03:46:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 19 May 2010 07:13:33 AM IST
BANGALORE: Monsoons are a couple of weeks away but the city’s roads seem ill-prepared.
The Cubbon Road, once considered one of the best roads in the city, is full of potholes now.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) dug up the road to repair a pipeline but did not fill it or put up barricades for cautioning motorists.
The pothole on Infantry Road Cross that joins Cubbon Road also poses danger to motorists taking a left turn.
Pedestrians are at risk of falling into the storm water drain on Raj Bhavan Road as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike removed the concrete slab on the drain to clear the silt but did not cover it again.
BWSSB Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu had assured that digging of roads would be stopped during monsoon, but the civic agencies are yet to pay heed.
Lack of coordination among the civic bodies has added to the chaos.
On Tuesday evening, the traffic police had to request or frighten some home-bound labourers to bring mud and fill the pothole on Raj Bhavan Road near the General Post Office.
“The BWSSB men dug the road but failed to fill it,” said B G Shankarappa, sub-inspector, Cubbon Park police station. “I requested labourers to help fill the pothole.” The Old Madras Road is also in a mess. The water board replaced pipes there but did not asphalt it.
Suresh, executive engineer (East Division), BBMP, said a different agency was responsible for filling the potholes.
“I will ask them to fill the potholes immediately.”