Now, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sets 15-day deadline to fix potholes

BENGALURU: After killer potholes claimed three lives over the past one week in the city, the government appears to have finally woken up. On Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited some potholed roads and set a 15-day deadline to officials to fill up all craters across the state capital. He also warned that if any more potholes were found after that, chief engineers with the BBMP will be held responsible. 

Speaking to the media after meeting BBMP officials, Siddaramaiah said it is impossible to count potholes on roads. “Is it possible to count hair on your head? How does the number matter as I have directed the officials to fix them all within 15 days,’’ he said.But BBMP hasn’t met a single deadline fixed by the commissioner so far. They said they can’t fix potholes during rains. The city has nearly 16,000 potholes. The government is also forming a task force to ensure pothole-free roads, silt-free drains and waste management.

CM blames Metro for pothole death 
Blaming BMRCL, Siddaramaiah said the accident on Nayandahalli road, where a woman pillion rider died while trying to avert a pothole, happened as the road was damaged due to Metro work. “They have damaged many roads. I have told them to repair damaged roads,’’ he said. When told road digging by civic agencies was damaging roads, he said he will instruct Chief Secretary to call a meeting with heads of civic agencies.