In Bengaluru, the perennial issue of potholes continues to plague the city, with a staggering 5,500 potholes currently reported, as disclosed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath assured citizens of proactive measures, stating, “We are inspecting all potholes across all zones. There are 5,800 potholes in total, with 670 on arterial and sub-arterial roads. Additionally, 66 locations have bad patches.” Nath outlined the plan to address the issue, highlightingthe use of cold mix to fill potholes on main roads, aided by zonal chief engineers.
However, skepticism looms among residents, exemplified by Sunil Narayan’s sentiments. Narayan highlighted the persistent deterioration of road conditions despite a lack of significant rainfall since November. With Bengaluru recording an average of three accident-related deaths daily, the repercussions of poor road maintenance are starkly evident.
To confront the challenge, BBMP has established a hot mix plant near Kannur, aiming to enhance the quality and efficiency of road repairs. Previously reliant on contractors for hot mix asphalt, the new plant represents a step towards greater control over material quality. Despite the significant investment of Rs 3.5 crore for the Kannur plant, concerns remain over its full utilization and effectiveness.
The plant, operating at 120 tonnes per hour, holds promise for addressing the city’s pothole problem. BBMP officials confirmed its utilization for pothole repairs, with an allocation of Rs 15 lakh earmarked for this purpose on ward-level roads. Additionally, a 12-month contract has been awarded for road maintenance across all 225 wards, with BBMP allocating Rs 33 crore for the endeavor.
