When T.O.I. (Bangalore edition) reported of a new website started by enterprising Bangaloreans to highlight the pathos of potholes in the city, I was curious to know what was on this site-- https://bangalore pothole.com & was amazed by their novel idea to bring about Awarenessamongst the local people.
When we were young, we had never heard of this Pothole menace on the roads of major cities. But now, with increasing number of vehicles and with heavy rains, the first infrastructure to collapse are the ROADS!!!! Of late, we have witnessed this feature in Mumbai, Chennai and ofcourse in B’lore.
As citizens when we pay our taxes regularly, we must be provided with decent roads to commute. But here, with politicians mudslinging at each other, we are left with ONLY STRETCHES & STRETCHES of potholes to have roller coaster ride over them and end up with severe back and neck problems. Whenever Citizens forum bring up these issues to the politicians, they are assured with empty promises but no Action. But this website is a great boon for all those who want to take up this case v seriously. For some reason, the people who have made this site do not want to reveal their identity but nevertheless their contribution to bring about an awakening among the citizens and hopefully to alert the BANGALORE MAHANAGAR PALIKE has been worthful.
This site has many features like Origin of Pothole, its causes, Dangers due to it, Filling them etc.
But the most remarkable fact is WE CAN REPORT THE POTHOLES IN OUR AREA by posting PHOTOGRAPHS of that affected AREA and mentioning about the daily tussle that we endure while travelling . I was shocked to see major places in Blore like CUBBON ROAD, HRBR ROAD, St. MARKS ROAD, LAVELLE ROAD, FRAZER TOWN, DOUBLE ROAD, COMMERCIAL STREET , RAMAMURTHY NAGAR MAIN ROAD, DICKENSON ROAD & many major places have these problems. Ofcourse, though there are no snaps of KORMANGLA, DOMLUR, J.P.NAGAR still the situation is v grave. The Photographs speak Volumes of the so called infrastructure of ourSILICON CITY. It’s a shame that Bangalore City Corporation still has never bothered to rectify the potholed areas . Infact, this site also has MAPS showing the various Wards & details of Asphalting roads, their maintenance etc but ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE!
In spite of the shortcomings, the die-hard spirit of Bangaloreans to create this kind of interactive site is commendable. They have also brought up a new strategy of ADOPTING A POTHOLE whereby citizens can really do something concrete.
I do wish that other cities too have similar sites whereby people can pour their woes, post all the snaps of ghostly potholes and at least hope to awaken the Palikas in their respective cities.
Who knows, there’s a SILVER LINING shining through the dark clouds!!!!!
An Optimistic Bangalorean!