- The Indian citizens from across the length and breadth of the country would be going about their routine businesses as nonchalantly as possible while commuting on the roads, but with a prayer on their lips to keep them safe. Call it a unique phenomenon for Indian commuters and travellers, roads especially those within the civic limitations, are no less than a nightmare in the absence of good quality of work executed. Mind you, asking any commuters within the municipal/corporation/city limits will elicit a scathing, caustic, sarcastic, and cynical response condemning the poor quality of stretches dotting the landscape. Citizens will be excused for thinking that the roads they commute are veritable deathtraps leaving them unduly overstressed.
PC: Scott Woodbury-Stewart
- The bane of corruption has taken such deep roots in literally every walks of life that the quality of workmanship executed by the government machinery always tend to be below par, especially road works. We all know how crucial it is for the road infrastructure for the overall development of the economy. But continued negligence and unbreakable nexus between the politicians-bureaucrats-contractors’ lobby is posing tremendous challenges to the smooth running of the country from progressing ahead. The less said the better about the major metro cities too, as the road conditions in some of these marquee places too are pathetic, to say the least. Despite these cities being the major revenue-generating units, the apathy of poor workmanship persists.
- No wonder, among many reasons India ranks the worst in road deaths worldwide, perhaps the most wretched and shocking are potholes. This form of civic dereliction of duty is almost unique to India – the phrase pothole death is unheard of in most countries. Government data places the 2016-20 annual average of such deaths at 2,300. That’s bound to be an underestimate, no questions asked. Proxy labels such as death due to negligence where the onus is placed on victims/drivers are further reminders of a system where the contractor, the engineer, and the official are often bound by sharing of ill-gotten gains, and no one’s held accountable. It is frustrating and depressing to note how concerned stakeholders turn blind eye to the issue.
PC: Harsha Raj Gatty
- Of course, the courts are appraised of the situation and step in to address the malady often. Last week Kerala high court directed district collectors to proactively avert these man-made disasters, particularly in their capacity as heads of the local disaster management authority. Bombay HC will be constituting a special bench on the issue after authorities have failed to implement its earlier orders on repairing potholes in Maharashtra. Also, a similar failure by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has had the Karnataka high court warning of contempt action against it. Moreover, the courts’ struggle to change municipal bosses indicates the extent to which the rot has spread in the civic departments.
- Disgustingly, on infrequent occasions when errant contractors are blacklisted, backdoors are found to get them fresh contracts with the active connivance of the politicians. Even the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 provision for fining the designated authority, contractor, consultant, or concessionaire up to Rs 1 lakh for subpar work leading to road accidents. Expectedly, it is gathering dust. The situation on the roads can be dramatically changed provided the political willpower and upright administration deliver on expected lines. Hopefully, it will.
