- Of late, the crore-plus citizens calling Bengaluru their home must be left astounded, intrigued, frustrated, and cynical while commuting on the despicable roads of the city. The gamut of emotions running through those daily commuters must be like a dirge browsing through our minds enduring horrible times on those craters of pothole-filled roads. Trust me, as a daily commuter traversing from one part to another part of the city, I along with millions can vouch the roads have gone from bad to worse. Irrespective of what the government in the saddle would want us to believe about road repair work being undertaken, the conditions on the ground are simply unacceptable, and despicable to say the least. Sad indeed for every honest tax-paying citizen.
PC: Hindustan Times
- As you are aware, the Karnataka government was elected by the electorate with a thumping majority with the hope of receiving an honest administration fulfilling the promises of providing all the basic amenities and much-improved delivery vis-à-vis clean governance. The five-guarantee scheme unveiled by the Congress before the state assembly elections last year had a huge impact as the eventual electoral results showed. Now, the countervailing outcome of successfully implementing those five guarantee schemes is that the government finds itself short of requisite funds to ensure all the basic amenities are in place, especially the major revenue-generating center like the capital city of Bengaluru having safe commutable roads.
- Of course, the Deputy CM and the Bengaluru-in charge-Minister set a deadline to fill up pothole-filled roads within a fortnight. However, the deadline has come and gone, but the woes of the commuters continue to be pathetic with no signs of immediate relief in sight. Most astonishingly, some of those readied pothole-filled roads have reverted to craters soon after the rains. It’s left to the imagination of the people to ascertain what sort of quality workmanship is on display when roads done a fortnight back have developed potholes. Yes, the BBMP has a ready reply for the shoddy work quoting technical jargon as the reason for the craters to reappear. However, the fact of the matter is commuters are back to experiencing the familiar challenges on the roads.
PC: India Today
- The moot point to ponder over here is why the government agencies tasked to maintain civic amenities fail the taxpayers time and again by executing below-par work knowing fully well that the lives of commuters will be at risk while commuting on the pothole-filled roads. We, the Bengaluru citizens, are proud of the moniker Silicon Valley of India as well as being adoringly addressed as the City of Gardens. Unfortunately, the once-garden city has already turned into a garbage city with the landscape resembling anything but clean and tidy. Why cannot the government authorities provide safe commutable roads for the citizens that would last at least for a couple of years? The elected representatives should honestly introspect with intent.
