The arterial Cunningham Road has been a motorist's nightmare for nearly a fortnight now. If the barricading of a manhole, which was under repair, caused traffic snarls, now it is a huge crater round the manhole that is not slowing the traffic but also leading to injuries and frayed tempers.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had put up the barricades for two weeks to clear the clogged drain. The manhole is at the entrance of Cunningham Road, near Balekundri Circle, and, with the barricades removed, the crater is leaving many riders injured and vehicles damaged.
Accidents
The uneven road surface, which has not been repaired, poses a hazard to motorists and the depressions on the right side of the one-way road force them to swerve to the left. All too often arguments have erupted after this sudden manoeuvre has resulted in collisions, with vehicles rear-ending them. “Even if the frantic swerving does not lead to a collision, the close calls often lead to altercations,” said Shabbir, a regular road user, who was recently involved in an unpleasant squabble with an autorickshaw driver.
Noella Ferrao, who studies in Mount Carmel College, said she avoids the road. The situation is worse at night when the craters go unnoticed.
M.N. Sreehari, Adviser to State Government on issues related to traffic, transport and infrastructure, said: “Improper drainage in the manholes results in water seepage and percolation on the pavement. When roads are laid with poor quality materials, this percolation separates the aggregate from the bitumen, thereby resulting in potholes. Movement of heavy vehicles and frequent usage of these roads can also cause them.”
Srinivas Rao, advertising professional lamented that despite the presence of a premier hospital, the road is not well maintained.
When The Hindu contacted a senior BWSSB official, he said he was unaware of the problem.
Stating that the uneven road was due to re-laying, he said that the board would address the issue soon.
