BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s remark on Tuesday that negligent riding of two-wheelers claimed lives of people and letting civic authorities off the hook for poor condition of roads has angered the city residents.
Civic experts came down heavily against booking riders for pothole related deaths. Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) president D.S. Rajshekar said that being Chief Minister of a state he should not talk in a light manner. Losing life is a serious issue. It is the sheer negligence of authorities in fixing the potholes and dug up portion of road by agencies like BBMP, BDA and BWSSB. He should have been more responsible while making such statements, he added.
“In case of accident at Kammanahalli, where the pillion rider Jolly died, the rider was a senior citizen and an ex-army man. He would not have driven the vehicle in rash and negligent manner. When the rider is traumatized for having lost a dear one what logic is it to book and arrest the rider on the grounds of culpable homicide not amounting to murder,” he questioned.
Officers are taking CM for a ride by taking him to the places where work is being done. Has he visited really critical or problematic area? Why can’t he choose the place for inspection instead of depending upon the officials? Why should CM get into the road, does it mean that the corporators have failed in their duties, he said.
The CM should ensure formation of ward committees and this would solve 50 per cent of the infrastructure related problems. The CM has been holding the road shows without even reviewing the progress of his previous road shows, Rajshekar said.
A member of Resident Welfare Association on condition of anonymity said that traffic comes to halt when the CM goes out. CM travels in a chauffer driven car and he will not know the difficulties of a motorist.
The civic agencies must be pulled up for their fault. How can a motorist find a pothole when they are covered with water due to poor drain network, he asked. This latest remark by the Chief Minister has only added to the mounting criticism against his administration and style of functioning.
Potholes take a heavy toll
December 4, 2015: A 30-year-old pillion rider was killed after he lost control and slipped from the bike when he tried to manoeuvring a pothole near Big Bazar near Vijaya bank Colony in Hulimavu traffic police limits.
September 18, 2015: 25-year-old woman pillion rider Stuti Tripathi Pandey died after falling off the bike when her husband tried to avoid a pothole on a flyover in Devarbisnahalli.
August 23, 2015: Nine-year-old Likith Gowda and his mother, Sunitha, died when the latter swerved her two-wheeler to avoid a huge pothole near SRS Circle on Tumkur Road and the duo was knocked down by a speeding bus.
April 27, 2015: 13-year-old Shama Anjum and her one-year-old sister Ayam died when their mother attempted to manoeuvre the two-wheeler around a pothole on OTC Road near Ulsoorgate police station.
December 5, 2014: Two-and-a-half-year-old Dhanushree was crushed to death by a lorry on Hoodi main road when her uncle hit a pothole and lost control of the two-wheeler he was riding. The lorry rammed from behind and ran over the child.
