One for the road, two for the pothole

A resident from one of the 80 apartments in the Sobha apartments neighbourhood/Green Glen Layout posed an open challenge last week, daring people to walk down the main access road grandly named Palm Avenue, without getting one’s feet/trousers dirty.

The terrible roads of Green Glen Layout. Pic: Thomas V.

Another resident took it further capturing the state of the road in a video clip, shooting as he drove through the area, with the camera positioned at road level. 

It may not be very different from hundreds of other roads in the city, but that doesn’t decrease the pain that thousands of residents and visitors to more than 80 apartment complexes in the area, are subjected to, every single day.

BBMP official AE Narayana says they had proposed a plan for 2 crores to fix the road last year. The proposal was sent back to the ward office, asking officials to resubmit the same during the budget exercise. It was resubmitted as part of this year’s proposed list of works, but the status is not known yet. 

In many meetings, elected reps have claimed to have got large sums approved for the road. MLA Limbavali (BJP) claimed to have sanctioned Rupees 2 crores during an RWA meeting. Corporator Babu Reddy (INC) has mentioned an amount of 1.5 crores. Over the years, many plans have been made, approved and disregarded.

Residents are repeatedly told, ‘we will do pothole filling as soon as the rain stops.’ Even when that happens, it is of no use. Dumping gravel makes no difference. We, the residents are in such a fix that we are debating whether to get some concrete and fix the road ourselves. Then can we stop paying property tax?

Comments:

  1. Vaidya R says:

    It’s not the property tax the corporator would be worried about. If residents got together and fixed the roads properly, you are relieving the corporator of a contract that he could’ve awarded his favourite contractor. Expect BWSSB or someone, or someone claiming to be them to come dig it up immediately in the case! πŸ˜€

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Citizen groups rally for sustainable mobility ahead of Maharashtra elections

The Urban Mobility Charter demands improved public transport, road safety measures and pedestrian-friendly policies.

Maharashtra is at a critical juncture in its urban development. As cities expand and populations grow more diverse, the state's transportation infrastructure struggles to keep pace. Rising pollution, worsening congestion, and increasing social inequities have escalated from issues of inefficiency to a full-blown crisis. As the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections approach, these mobility challenges require urgent action. Also Read: Local and ethical candidates only, Govandi citizens tell political parties ahead of elections To address this, Parisar, Waatavaran, and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC), with support from the Sustainable Mobility Network (SMN), have co-drafted the Maharashtra Urban Mobility Charter…

Similar Story

Walking Project’s manifesto: Ensure better roads and pedestrian safety in Mumbai

Keeping the upcoming assembly elections in mind, Walking Project has released a manifesto for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

According to the 2016 Comprehensive Mobility Plan by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, 51% of trips in Mumbai are by walking. Notably, 72.5% of trips to educational institutions and 60% of trips involving public transport start and end with walking. Despite these figures, Mumbai's infrastructure is not pedestrian-friendly, and road safety remains a significant concern. Recent projects like the coastal road and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link prioritise cars over pedestrians. Elections and pedestrians' needs With the assembly elections approaching, the Walking Project, an NGO that works towards creating a safe, convenient, and enjoyable walking experience, has released its…