Potholes filled before DCM's 15-day timeline ‘open up’ soon after!

NT Bengaluru: A fortnight after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s inspection of road repairs in the city and the setting of a 15-day deadline to fill them, potholes which were filled, have opened up again in Nagarbhavi due to rains, exposing the shabby quality of work undertaken by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Early last month, Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development Portfolio, warned BBMP officials of suspension if roads in the city still have potholes.

In the 15 day period since then, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath claimed they have filled more than 6,000 potholes. Shivakumar’s inspection did not prompt any suspensions, but questions remain over the quality of roads in the city outskirts. This pothole in question is on the service road of the Outer Ring Road at Nagarbhavi 2nd stage. They fall under Wards 129 (Jnanabharathi) and Ward 73 (Kottigepalya) of RR Nagar Zone. Residents and businessmen in the area claim that the officials have filled the potholes but the workmanship is poor. “Not even a month since the potholes were filled, they have caved in soon after it rained,” said Vignesh, who comes to work in the area.

Motorists have also expressed concern while navigating this stretch, which has notoriously large potholes. “Around eight people have fallen off their vehicles after the rain which started last Saturday,” claimed a motorist on the ground of anonymity. Another pothole which was filled as part of the special drive by zonal commissioners, has returned to its original shape with pipes also sticking out now. “We were relieved to see work take place on this notorious stretch. But to see it give in so easily in the rain is shocking,” said Bharath, a resident who lives in the vicinity.

‘Pothole not filled scientifically’: Expert Asserting that the civic authorities lack quality material and engineers with technical acumen, M N Sreehari, government advisor on traffic, transportation and infrastructure dubbed the pothole filling activity as a “gimmick.”

Residents and businessmen claim the officials have filled the potholes but the workmanship is poor.