Bengaluru: Talk of road repair and the BBMP reels off the crores it has spent on it. But there’s little to show for it on the ground as people continue to have close calls while avoiding potholes, many of which are now submerged in water owing to the rain and have turned into potential death traps.
A large pothole in the middle of the main road near the Vannarpet bus stop is proving a huge encumberance for commuters as Mr Christopher Raj of Ashoknagar recounts he nearly met with an accident while on his way to the Infant Jesus Church last week because of it.
Vivek Nagar
“As this pothole is behind the bus stand it is very difficult for motorists to avoid. That day it was submerged under water because it was raining and we could have easily gone into it. A stone slab is supposed to cover it, but its not proving of much help,” he regretted.
Similar pothole-ridden roads in Ejipura and Austin Town are also becoming a nightmare for commuters with the recent rains exposing the shoddy work done by the BBMP in repairing them.
Brigade Road junction
While the civic agency claims to have taken up road works worth Rs. 1,045 crore under the Nagarothana scheme , the PWD says it too has spent Rs. 249 crore on roads in the city. Last year, the BBMP claims to have spent Rs. 417 crore on road works and the year before that, Rs. 566 crore.
Ask BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad about the shoddy condition of the roads despite these so-called repairs and he says the BBMP has been on a pothole -filling drive over the last three days.
“All zonal chief engineers and engineers of major roads have been directed to identify and fill the potholes on a war- footing or face stern action,” he said.
As for work under the Nagarothana scheme, he claimed it had begun and in some cases work orders had been issued. “During the rain asphalting of roads slows down. But the contractors have been directed to complete the civil work on time,” he added.
BBMP to lay concrete roads
The BBMP plans to lay more concrete roads, which are durable and not prone to potholes in 2016-17. Members of the Bengaluru Blueprint Action Group (BBAG) have suggested forming of a coordination committee with representatives of the BBMP, BDA, Bescom, BWSSB, BSNL and other telecom providers on board to prevent cutting or digging up of the concrete roads once they are laid.
