Roads in the Hoige Bazaar are full of potholes following heavy rain in the coastal region.
The patchwork done on the stretch between Nanthur and Thokkottu on the National Highway has hardly made any difference as it too is dotted with potholes. The large potholes around Mahaveer (Pumpwell) Circle are a nightmare, particularly for those riding two-wheelers.
The patchwork done in May on a 200-m stretch connecting Hoige Bazaar to Morgan's Gate via Bolar could not withstand a two-day spell of heavy rain, said Ranjan Kumar (32). The repairs were carried out only after the residents made a strong plea at a janaspandana programme in early May.
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Mr. Kumar, who runs a canteen near Albuquerque Tile Factory, complained that passing vehicles splash water from the potholes into his canteen. According to him, only concreting the rod could solve this problem.
Many shopkeepers on the road feel that patchwork does not last long because of poor quality. Uday Kumar (48), who has owned a shop there for 15 years, said, “Nothing has changed over the years. The patchwork cannot withstand the monsoon.”
Mr. Kumar and other shopkeepers alleged that the repair work was of poor quality.
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Assistant Executive Engineer of the Mangalore City Corporation K.S. Lingegowda said that this road would be widened and concreted as soon as the Government released funds. The Hoige Bazaar-Morgan's Gate Road leads to NH 17 via Mahakalipadpu. Driving on the Morgan's Gate-Mahakalipadpu stretch is dangerous. Aboobaker, who owns a shop near the Mahakalipadpu railway level-crossing, said that the road was tarred around two years ago. Since then, it had disintegrated in several places resulting in large potholes.
Even asphalted roads such as the one connecting Pumpwell Circle to the bridge across the Netravati, which were in good condition, are now crumbling. Several potholes have surfaced on this road in the past few days, said Krisnhappa, a security guard.