Bengaluru: Once considered one of the beautiful stretches of roads in the city, the two-kilometre long Nandidurga Road today invariably leave motorists at their wits end, thanks to the giant potholes that adorn the stretch. They not only spring a sudden surprise to the motorists, but challenge the driving and maneuverability skills of all and sundry.
Two-wheeler riders on Nandidurga Raod, a major arterial stretch that connects North Bengaluru with East Bengaluru, are bound to either take the footpath or a fall in a bid to overtake the bigger vehicles and also avoid the potholes. This stretch which also connects Idgah Maidan on Millers Road and the Jayamahal Road junction is also known for traffic indiscipline of a tall order with local riders and drivers trying to ape James Bond or Ethan Hunt. All the possible traffic rules are broken to the dismay of the cops from J.C. Nagar Traffic Police Station which is located right on this stretch.
During the peak hours from 8.30 am to 11 am and between 6 pm and 8.30 pm, all hell breaks loose with traffic jams delaying journey of vehicles of all types by almost 45 minutes. With three mosques in the vicinity including the huge Masjid-E-Khadriya, the traffic scene worsens on Fridays. Traffic jams are common even on Saturdays as devotees throng the famous Bande Anjaneyaswamy Temple among five other temples that dot the place. Some regular commuters going towards R T Nagar and Coles Park have familiarised themselves with the bylanes leading to Chinnappa Garden and Coles Park via Benson Cross Road, where thankfully, the roads are properly asphalted.
“The adjoining roads are well asphalted but why this ‘Kolaveri’ with Nandidurga Road?”, quipped Murugan, a resident of the nearby Chinnappa Garden. “I have to regularly travel to Guttahalli. I have stopped taking Nandidurga Road since the past couple of years. Instead I ply via the narrow Munireddy Palya Road. It's much better than dodging the massive potholes along the Nandidurga stretch. But shortcuts or alternative roads cannot remain secrets for too long as every working commuter is in a hurry to reach his destination. The alternative roads are also getting clogged these days.”
“When it rains it is worse for two-wheeler riders. I myself have witnessed so many riders unaware of the depth of the water-filled potholes falling hard. BBMP has been apathetic for years now,” said Musa who runs a tea shop near J C Nagar Traffic Police Station.
“I know the exact count of potholes on this road because I have been seeing them for the past couple of years. From Millers Road it starts right in front of the Assumption Church, and then near YMCA bus stop, a huge one on the deviation leading to Jayamahal Park, three more before reaching the Bande Anjaneyaswamy Temple, two others on either sides of the junction near Airtel office one with a metal rod popping out, a big one near the Muslim cemetry and a little one in front of the J C Nagar Traffic Police Station. It’s the same corporator for Benson cross Road as well as Nandidurga Road. Why the bias then?, questioned Musa.
Karthik K, a Benson Town resident says he fears taking his mother pillion on his bike as the stretch can be very risky with her sitting with both legs on one side.
When DC contacted Jayamahal Corporator M K Gunashekar he had a different story to tell. “Chief Engineer Somashekar had floated tenders last month but due to server failure in the online tendering portal, the process has been delayed inordinately. The problem is getting rectified this month and I am hoping that the issue will be resolved within a month. Now, minor works have almost begun. Last week tractors were sent to clear the debris on the road,” he said.
