Latest news with #SobhaGarnetApartmentOwnersAssociation

Time of India

Back to square one! Potholes outpace patchworks by Bengaluru's civic body

Bengaluru: BBMP has undertaken pothole-filling work, but that has not enthused Bengalureans. Reason: The speed at which potholes are making appearances on the roads of the tech capital is much higher than the civic body's damage-control exercise! Almost all important roads which witnessed patchwork a few weeks ago are back to square one, following recent rains: Dotted with potholes! "Not just the city's periphery, even roads in the central part of the city are marked with broken stretches and craters. The city roads have gone from bad to worse," said Nikhil A, a consumer goods marketing professional, who clocks around 45km of travel every day. Pointing to Langford Road in Richmond Road, he said: "Last week, there were no potholes near Nanjappa Circle as patch work had been done. But on Monday morning, I had to navigate three big potholes, one of them was three inches deep. Fortunately, I did not fall." Commuters TOI spoke to said their daily commute was a gamble with back pain, traffic snarls, and even accidents. They also said when they go and try to complain, it's just a blame game happening between civic bodies, which is not at all citizen-friendly. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Rajeev Balakrishnan, a 60-year-old Hennur resident, said: "Every monsoon, Bengaluru's roads turn into a nightmare for commuters because of potholes. On Hennur Road, the situation in some stretches is still poor. I have lived in the city for nearly 28 years, and potholes were a problem since the time I came here. They cause traffic jams and wastage of petrol." Officials Say A senior official said they started the work of filling potholes and will soon finish it. In a recent press conference, BBMP chief commissioner directed officials to undertake pothole-filling work across the city swiftly. According to the traffic police department, 4,500 potholes were identified across major roads and ward-level roads. Of these, 3,621 potholes fall under the limits of BBMP, while the remaining 879 are outside its purview. Quote boxes: KG Mohan, vice president, Sobha Garnet Apartment Owners Association, Iblur The Agara stretch was relaid just a month ago, but rains wiped it out within weeks. Roads here don't last a season, let alone six months, because they're built without standards — only to make money. Driving on these cratered stretches is a health hazard; two-wheeler users risk back problems and accidents, especially at night with no streetlights. Last week near Agara Lake, it looked like there was no road there. The govt may be cash-strapped, but that's no excuse, at least basic standards and temporary fixes must be ensured Gautam Mishra, resident of Whitefield for the last 20 years Our roads are bad year-round, not just in monsoons. The stretch behind ITPB, linking Varthur and Nallurhalli, is in pathetic shape with barely any footpaths. For a city aspiring to be a global hub, this is unacceptable. People want to walk or use public transport, but poor roads discourage them. Residents hesitate to step out. Keeping roads serviceable doesn't take much effort, it's BBMP's most basic duty. Funds are being spent, but where's the money going as conditions remain this bad? Karthik Reddy, 32, techie, a commuter from Whitefield I commute from Kundalahalli to Whitefield, and potholes here are a daily menace. A 100ft road shrinks to half its width as vehicles swerve to avoid craters, causing jams at every signal. Even worse, rainwater hides them, throwing two-wheelers off balance and causing back strain. Inside tech parks, roads are smooth and well-lit, but outside, they're broken, footpaths are encroached, and lighting is poor. Clean roads and usable footpaths are basic civic needs, why are they still a challenge? Indranil Roy Choudhury, 45, resident of Rayasandra Road for 15 years I travel daily to Manyata Tech Park and also to DPS East via Rayasandra Lake Road. The road in these stretches is not a road at all — it's more like a river than a street. It feels like hell. The drainage system is terrible, it stinks, and people often slip or meet with accidents. For at least four years, we fought for basic infrastructure. We pay our taxes, but in return, we don't even get proper roads. Travel should not come at the cost of human life — these stretches are nothing short of death traps. Box 1: What do Residents Want Better road quality that doesn't collapse when it rains. Basic maintenance and even temporary fixes (like jelly or patchwork after rains) to make roads motorable Proper drainage to prevent waterlogging that hide potholes and lead to accidents Safe, usable and non-encroached footpaths Better coordination between civic bodies Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.