BHOPAL: Pothole-riddled roads pose problems to commuters in the state capital in the rainy season. Locals have raised the voice against concerning agencies over dilapidated condition of roads. Concerning agencies citing Covid-19 induced lockdown said they did not get required time to repair the roads in the state capital ahead of the monsoon.
Locals said that reminders were sent to civic agencies to fill potholes and complete road repair work by May or mid June so that there is ample time for the asphalt and other construction material to dry up and settle before rains. However, nothing was done and riding on the city roads exposed the real picture.
A brief spell of rain leads to ankle-deep to knee-deep water on roads. Potholes and dug-up roads add to the problem and become a safety concern for commuters. The motorists said that it is very risky to drive on pothole-riddled roads. Besides, it is also causing damage to vehicles. Traffic congestion on these roads is a regular problem during monsoon
Pothole-riddled road in Bhopal | Pradeep Mehar
Auto struck in muddy road in Bhopal | Pradeep Mehar
Bhopal road in bad shape | Pradeep Mehar
Water logging is a major concern during the monsoon. What makes the situation worse is potholes, which are often hidden by water. There have been cases of commuters meeting with major accidents because they have not been able to ascertain the depth of the crater.
The Supreme Court, in 2018, had described as “unacceptable” the death in road accidents caused by potholes in the country and said the number was probably more than those killed on the border or by terrorists. While hearing a matter related to road safety in India, the Bench had also said that persons who lost their lives as a result of accidents caused due to potholes should be entitled to compensation.
