Dangerous roads

The roads and flyovers have become dotted with big or small potholes. Unfortunately in most cases the authorities have gone for temporary stop-gap solutions

According to media reports a number of potholes have appeared on the surface of most of the roads, highways and flyovers throughout the capital this monsoon season. We understand that maintaining roads and flyovers of the city 100 per cent pothole-free–specially during the monsoon season– is next to impossible. However the situation has worsened to such an extent that it is simply unacceptable. It is unacceptable that a flyover, built at enormous cost, would become filled with potholes. The contractors entrusted to construct the highways and flyovers must be brought to book. They should be forced to repair the damage done at their own cost. Not a single paisa should be spent from the national exchequer. If the contractors fail to oblige they should be blacklisted. The authorities responsible for monitoring the work should also be made answerable. Evidently both the contractors and the overseeing officials showed gross negligence towards their duties. The emergence of the potholes and virtual craters has also given rise to questions about the safety of the passengers. There should be thorough checking to ensure that the roads can withstand the flow of traffic and there is no chance of a potential catastrophe. We have observed that there have been no complaints about roads and bridges built under the supervision of military personnel. We are not saying that the majority of civilian authorities are either incompetent or dishonest. However you can’t blame people who reach that conclusion.        

The roads and flyovers have become dotted with big or small potholes. Unfortunately in most cases the authorities have gone for temporary stop-gap solutions– bringing in a truckload of bitumen-mixed gravel at night, pour the mixture into the holes and run a heavy roller. Naturally rain and traffic combine to open up the holes again.

Potholes teamed with the steep rise or descent of flyovers and connecting roads make for potentially fatal combination for commuters. Moderate to heavy rains invariably cause water-logging in many city streets and the potholes can’t be seen. This has resulted in many accidents. So the dangerous stretches of potholes spread across the city are not only unsafe for the motorists but the pedestrians as well. We urge the concerned government to find reasons behind the roads and flyovers developing potholes and take action accordingly. One of the reasons potholes were surfacing because of the work undertaken for laying pipeline, drainage and other utility services. Only proper inter-departmental co-ordination can lead to a solution in this case.              

Dangerous roads

The roads and flyovers have become dotted with big or small potholes. Unfortunately in most cases the authorities have gone for temporary stop-gap solutions

According to media reports a number of potholes have appeared on the surface of most of the roads, highways and flyovers throughout the capital this monsoon season. We understand that maintaining roads and flyovers of the city 100 per cent pothole-freespecially during the monsoon season is next to impossible. However the situation has worsened to such an extent that it is simply unacceptable. It is unacceptable that a flyover, built at enormous cost, would become filled with potholes. The contractors entrusted to construct the highways and flyovers must be brought to book. They should be forced to repair the damage done at their own cost. Not a single paisa should be spent from the national exchequer. If the contractors fail to oblige they should be blacklisted. The authorities responsible for monitoring the work should also be made answerable. Evidently both the contractors and the overseeing officials showed gross negligence towards their duties. The emergence of the potholes and virtual craters has also given rise to questions about the safety of the passengers. There should be thorough checking to ensure that the roads can withstand the flow of traffic and there is no chance of a potential catastrophe. We have observed that there have been no complaints about roads and bridges built under the supervision of military personnel. We are not saying that the majority of civilian authorities are either incompetent or dishonest. However you cant blame people who reach that conclusion. The roads and flyovers have become dotted with big or small potholes. Unfortunately in most cases the authorities have gone for temporary stop-gap solutions bringing in a truckload of bitumen-mixed gravel at night, pour the mixture into the holes and run a heavy roller. Naturally rain and traffic combine to open up the holes again. Potholes teamed with the steep rise or descent of flyovers and connecting roads make for potentially fatal combination for commuters. Moderate to heavy rains invariably cause water-logging in many city streets and the potholes cant be seen. This has resulted in many accidents. So the dangerous stretches of potholes spread across the city are not only unsafe for the motorists but the pedestrians as well. We urge the concerned government to find reasons behind the roads and flyovers developing potholes and take action accordingly. One of the reasons potholes were surfacing because of the work undertaken for laying pipeline, drainage and other utility services. Only proper inter-departmental co-ordination can lead to a solution in this case.