Visakhapatnam: Pothole-riddled roads are leaving bike riders with back aches and spinal cord issues. There is a significant number of people approaching orthopaedic doctors with back problems in the city.
The roads at Poorna Market, Kurupam Market, Chinna Waltair road, Pedda Waltair Road and some connecting roads are in a pathetic condition. Due to works to lay drainage lines and cables, the condition of the roads has deteriorated.
Andhra Medical College Assistant Professor P. Rambabu said, "The rides with several jerks put pressure on the disc joints in the vertebral column. If this happens repeatedly, the discs start degenerating."
He said about 30 to 40 per cent of the patients who turn up at hospitals with back pain are victims of potholed roads.
"Sudden jerks can cause the collapse of the vertebra leading to compression fracture," Prof. Rambabu said.
Locals complain that the corporation is focusing only on VIP zones like the Beach Road, MVP Colony and colonies where officers stay, while ignoring the others.
B. Vijayasri, a resident of Poorna Market, said, "GVMC officials never concentrate on the common people. They takes up repair work and complete it overnight when ministers or other VIPs visit the locality.”
Mr V. Sharma, a tea vendor, said: “We have taken the potholes issue to the GVMC officials many times but they did not listen to us. The roads are dug up for drainage work, but are not properly levelled, leading to frequent mishaps."
PG student M. Srinivas said, “The roads in the city are in such bad shape that we get backpain after riding on them. You can imagine the plight of elderly persons. How can we claim ours to be a Smart City?”
