BBMP fails on pothole promise, piece-meal approach not welcome

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The vow to fill potholes in roads across six zones of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) made by Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath is not successfully fulfilled.

Two days past the deadline, key arterial and sub-arterial roads still have huge crater-like potholes, which had formed long back. Last week, the BBMP had established a task force to fill potholes, after Chief Minister Siddaramiah had directed officials to fill potholes before the monsoon arrives.

However, with the teams in place, their main responsibility of making roads pothole-free remains unfulfilled, and taxpayers take the brunt of it. Potholes, with rainfall is an recipe for disaster, as traffic levels With a rain hiatus almost lasting six months, it can be said that the Palike are caught napping, instead of preparing for the monsoon by clearing side drains, and filling the potholes.

However, the BBMP are known for their reactionary approach, where in recent times action is taken only after a disaster is reported. Last year in May, a 22 year old girl had died after drowning in a car that was inundated in the underpass at KR Circle.

Adding to potholes, is the persistent danger of wires hanging in the open. Action from the authorities only came after a woman and her child got electrocuted from a live wire in Whitefield. Reports have emerged that two have been electrocuted at a religious procession near Anekal.