Civic woes: Potholes in residential areas not filled, angry locals ask why

Bengaluru: On Saturday, residents from Banaswadi, Seva Nagar, Kasturi Nagar, Horamavu, Ramamurthy Nagar and surrounding areas, which fall under the East division of the BBMP, stormed into the jurisdictional Palike office, asking officials as to why potholes in residential areas were not being filled, while major repair work has been taken up across the city. 

Since the Karnataka High Court ordered the BBMP to fill all the potholes in the city by Monday, the BBMP has gone on an overdrive. But people from residential areas have been complaining that roads in the interiors and residential areas are being ignored, even though they are full of potholes.

When the citizens laid siege to the BBMP office, the dumbstruck officials immediately ordered contractors to ensure that even interior roads are repaired.

An official from the BBMP East division, who wished not to be identified, said, "When the residents started asking us why interior roads in residential areas were not being covered, we did not have a reply. We immediately consulted our senior officers, who told us to ensure that interior roads too are pothole-free. We then asked the contractors, but they maintained that the interior roads were in good shape and did not need repairs. When we reported it back to senior officials, they warned the contractors, went to the spots where potholes were seen in residential areas and ensured that they were filled. As of Saturday, we have cleaned and covered the potholes with crushed stones. We will take up asphalting work on Monday."

The residents said that the sudden spurt in BBMP activity is only to cover up their past mistakes. "When the High Court ordered that there should no potholes in the city, it means even roads in residential areas that have potholes. But the BBMP is concerned only about main roads. In fact, roads in the interiors and residential areas are in far worse condition than main roads and have not been asphalted for ages. If the BBMP fails to act, we will approach the High Court to ensure that no area is neglected. Remember, we also pay our taxes," Mr Ramesh Narasimha, a resident of Horamavu, warned.

Another resident said that unless the public take to street, no work gets done. Mr Shantha Kumar, a resident of Ramamurthy Nagar, said that it is the duty of every citizen to question the officials. "It is only when we questioned that the BBMP officials sprung into action and deployed a JCB machine and a team of workers, who started covering potholes in residential areas of Ramamurthy Nagar," he said.

Problem between contractors, BBMP
Another senior officer from the BBMP, who did not want to be named, said that as per rules, the contractors are under contractual obligation to maintain roads for a certain period, but they don't do it. "We should just get rid of contractors and all the works should be handled by the government or BBMP. Until the contractors exist, the city will never improve. The contractors don't maintain the roads after laying them, and we get blamed for their mistakes." 

Will the deadline be met?
The BBMP has to further hasten the repair works to meet the Monday deadlines set by the Karnataka High Court to make Bengaluru 

pothole-free, experts said. But Mayor Sampath Raj was confident of clearing the city of all potholes in the next 24 hours. 

"The work is being carried out at a brisk pace and we are confident that we will finish it by Monday. If required, we will work even on Sunday. Till Saturday, the officials have worked round the clock," he said.