The Observer An IIJNM publication
RWH helps in restoring Cubbon Park’s natural flora | P 2
Vol 18, Issue 8
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
The Observer
@theweeklyobserver On the Web: issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs/ the_observer
Bescom accuses local goverment bodies of power thefts | P 3
Observer survey of five arterial roads shows not much has changed despite high court rapping BBMP
Who says Bengaluru is pothole-free? Horrid roads endanger lives and damage vehicles Sahana S
I
f one were to believe statistics provided by BBMP authorities to the Karnataka High Court, the city is free of potholes. However, the reality is very different. When The Observer inspected five arterial roads in Bengaluru –JC Road, Old Madras Road, Dr Rajkumar Road, Sarjapur Road and MG Road – it found numerous potholes making the life of commuters miserable. On September 19, the high court had taken note of the city’s bad roads and pulled up the BBMP for not repairing them. Commuters travelling to MG Road find it difficult to avoid a huge pothole that has come up across the Visvesvaraya museum. Motorcyclists hear a thud and experience a jerk when they ride over the pothole. Autorickshaw drivers said they have to apply brakes when they approach such potholes. “It is a huge problem while crossing this road. Without applying brakes and slowing down, I cannot avoid potholes. An experienced driver, I can manage,” said Ali Jan, an autorickshaw driver. Nagraju N, another driver, said he worries his autorickshaw might be hit from behind when he slows down. “We cannot do anything as we have to use the same road every day. If we slow down because of potholes, vehicles like BMTC buses might hit us from behind.’’ Dr Rajkumar Road, a fivestretch road in the northwest of the city, has several two-inchdeep potholes on both sides opposite Orion Mall. A traffic constable said he sees minor accidents because of these. The problem gets worse when it rains. “Apart from a few minor accidents resulting in damage to vehicles because of the potholes, there are no other problems on this stretch,” constable Mahade-
This pothole on Kasturba Road, close to MG Road, is Old Madras road is one of the worst hit roads among the nemesis of motorists the arterial roads. It has numerous potholes
Dr Rajkumar road located at nothwest of the city has Around Agara junction on Sarjapur Road,potholes are a constant nuisance | Credit: Sahana.S several two-inch-deep potholes on both sides vappa said. Heavy rain brings another problem in its wake: Potholes are submerged and invisible. Vijayalakshmi Shivakumar, a resident of Sanjaynagar, said: “During monsoon, I am extra careful while travelling on this road because it is very difficult to spot a pothole.” Her uncle suffered a fracture while trying to avoid one. Around Agara lake junction on Sarjapur Road, potholes are constant nuisance. The path is worn out. Big vehicles like BMTC buses and trucks have to move on the edge of the road, causing chaos. Mahesh M, a tractor driver, said: “There are many potholes on this
road. Every time we apply brakes, the tyres of our vehicles get worn out. It is difficult to stop because the road is in a bad condition.’’ Another motorist complained of a huge pothole on Sarjapur Road that forces people like him to find alternative roads. “The BBMP is filling potholes. But every day new ones are emerging due to various reasons. One such pothole is right across Agara junction,” Dhomikota Harsha, an Uber Eats delivery boy, said. JC Road, which connects south and central Bengaluru, has potholes at the turn towards Sampangiram Nagar. Vehicle drivers have to be extra careful to avoid pits like this. Because of heavy
traffic on this potholed stretch, college students try to avoid the route. “As there is pothole right at the turn, I try my best to take an alternative route to my house from my college,” Arav, an undergraduate student of Jain College, said. Uday Kumar, an HDFC collection manager, said: “It is very difficult to travel at night.” Old Madras Road seemed to be the worst among the five roads The Observer examined. Krishnamurthy S, an Ola cab driver, said: “We pay road tax monthly, yet encounter potholes. This road has made our lives difficult.” The BBMP engineer-in-chief
and an executive engineer claimed they are trying to cover potholes speedily. “There has been no delay in filling potholes. We are using Python (an automated filling machine) to cover potholes in order to provide a smooth ride for commuters across the city,” said BBMP engineer-in-chief Venkatesh. BBMP executive engineer (East) B S Shivakumar said: “I have started to fill the potholes across the city. We are working on Jayamahal Road, and will complete Old Madras Road by next week.” Shivakumar said: “For the East division, the contractors cover worn-out roads and potholes by pouring litmus concrete and layering it firmly. Companies like Bescom and Airtel dug the road overnight resulting in the unwanted creation of potholes everywhere. For an immediate measure, we rely on Python and try to cover the potholes.’’ By the next court hearing, on October 23, the executive engineer promised, Bengaluru would be free of potholes and commuters can have a smooth journey. On September 19, the high court ordered the BBMP to fill potholes by the next day. “It should be zero potholes by tomorrow. It is your job and you have an entire night,” The Hindu quoted the court as telling the BBMP. When the court met on September 20, the BBMP informed it that of the 3,071 potholes counted in the city, 899 had been filled by 6am that day. The civic body requested the court to give it three more days to fill the remaining potholes. The court allowed the request. Unhappy with BBMP’s shoddy job, the high court formed twomember commission consisting of Dinesh Agrawal, Commander Works Engineering Services, and Uma MG, member secretary of the Karnataka Legal Servicing Authority, to independently look into the matter.HC has also directed the BBMP to have a system for citizens to inform them about road maintenances and ensure that complaints are attended within the specific period . sahana.s@iijnm.org