The stretch between Shivaji Circle and Durga Devi Temple Circle, on the Dharwad-Savadatti State highway here, has been in a sorry state of affairs for several months now. Potholes are ubiquitous and crossing is a nightmare for pedestrians, considering that they have no walkways in the first place.
The road was dug up earlier, for laying underground drainage and water supply pipelines; but the authorities have yet to restore the road to a usable state. “The road is unsafe for both drivers and pedestrians. There have been several minor accidents here,” said Maratha Colony resident Milind Pise.
A residents’ forum, the Maratha Colony Nivasigala Sangha, is up in arms against officials and had threatened to block the road if restoration work was not started soon. The sangha, in a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla, said that officials had promised to begin restoration immediately after the pipelines were laid; that work was completed four months ago.
The bad shape of the road has given residents a headache, especially during the monsoon. Now, although the monsoon has passed by, the dust clouds generated from vehicular movement is causing health problems for the young and elderly, the sangha said.
It accused Minister in-charge of the district Santosh Lad Pralhad Joshi, MP, of ignoring their pleas. The sangha urged Mr. Shukla start road restoration works without further delay.
