Will white-topping put an end to pothole blues?

By Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Here is good news for motorists who used to dread using the cross road between Paramahansa Yogananda Road and Cambridge Road near Indiranagar ESI Hospital, opposite the Department of Space Housing Colony.

The 200-metre stretch was a nightmare for motorists, especially two-wheeler riders coming from HAL 12th Main, Paramahamsa Yogananda Road and other roads to proceed towards Cambridge Road, Jogupalya or Halasuru and other areas.

The road was full of potholes and craters. Though the BBMP had asphalted the road in the past, potholes and craters used to form within weeks due to water logging.

This cross road was prone to waterlogging because its surface was lower than the storm water drain. Now the BBMP has taken up white-topping of this stretch at an estimated cost of Rs 75 lakh.

According to the residents of the nearby housing colony, many two-wheeler riders met with road accidents due to the potholes during the monsoon. They blamed the BBMP authorities for neglecting to facilitate rain water flowing into the drain without any hassles.

“I have to thank our MLA for taking measures to convert this road into cement concrete road. We have suffered a lot all these years due to this pothole-ridden road. The condition of the road became worse during the last six years,” said Chandra Kumar, a resident of the Department of Space Housing Colony.

The residents recall how sewage water used to overflow onto the road from the drain adjacent to the housing colony. They said the BBMP developed the drain a few years ago, but the condition of the road remained the same.

Meanwhile, motorists are very happy that the BBMP was finally developing the stretch that connects Cambridge Road to proceed towards Halasuru. “I want the BBMP engineer to ensure proper curing of the concrete road. We have suffered all these years. We can wait for a few more days to use the road,” said Purushotham Naidu, a resident.

Meanwhile, BBMP assistant executive engineer Manjunath has said the road would be open to the public in 10 days. “We will concretise a small stretch of the road adjacent to this road to avoid water logging during monsoon.

I have directed the contractor to remove silt from the road side drain to carry rain water to the nearest storm water drain,” said the BBMP assistant executive engineer.