Commuting in the city is literally an obstacle course for commuters who have to deal with potholes and sinkholes.
Recently, the BBMP had submitted a report to the chief minister on the status of potholes, according to which there are 5,800 potholes on the roads. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has assured that all the potholes will be filled by June 22.
Rains have made these stretches messier and risky to travel.
One such road is the Hennur-Kothanur road. Residents say that they risk their lives every time they have to travel on this road.
Sunita Iyer, a resident of Hennur, said the entire stretch on the left side of the road from Hennur main road to Kothanur and beyond is filled with potholes. “One cannot call it a road. It feels like off-roading in the Himalayas. Even 10 minutes of rain causes havoc on this stretch. It’s not enough if the government fixes potholes. They need to first fix the road,” she said.
Nitin Sheshadri, a Koramangala resident, claimed that their locality has an even bigger problem: sinkholes, which could be seen on 13th Main Road and 16th Main Road in Koramangala III block. “For two-wheelers, especially, it is extremely dangerous during rains. However, officials have failed to take remedial measures.”
Assurances to fill potholes keep coming every year and with every monsoon, said civic activist Sanjeev Dyamannavar. “Officials are in a hurry to show progress. As a result, they compromise on the quality. The potholes resurface in specific places and the Palike needs to identify these areas,” he said adding that unless contractors and officials are held accountable, the situation will not change.