BENGALURU: If one starts counting the potholes on the city’s roads, the number could be staggering. The recent rains have opened up the potholes. But the problem is stark in areas where waterlogging persists. Adding to the misery are dug-up roads, both arterial and residential, across the city.
Dug-up roads and potholes can be seen everywhere, be it Koramangala, Agara Signal, Indiranagar, Seva Nagar, CV Raman Nagar, Bellandur, Madiwala, BTM Layout, Silk Board, Bannerghatta Road, Marathahalli, Whitefield, Yelahanka, Ballari Road or Hosur Road, to only name a few.
Shasank K, a resident of HSR Layout, said, “HSR Layout had well-laid roads. But after the venture of GAIL, all the roads were dug up to lay pipelines but not a single road has been restored. And it is no different between Sony Signal and Jakkasandra. Some authority has dug up this area too.”
Last year, BBMP touted that it would fill all the potholes by August 2016. On an average, BBMP identifies 230-240 potholes in a month. The numbers are even higher during the rainy season. A BBMP official said, “Potholes are being filled on an everyday basis, as and when we get complaints. We have been sending Python machines to the locations. We have also opened a compliant box.”
BBMP, however, says the wear and tear of the roads is to be blamed on BWSSB, OFC and GAIL, among others, who keep digging up roads. “They do take permission but they hardly inform us when they are undertaking the work. They are supposed to inform us about the digging schedule. Their restoration plan, too, is not up to the standards. BBMP is planning to form a team who will take up the restoration process and charges will be collected from the agencies. Tenders have been called,” the official added.