Twin cities sink into slush as drizzle exposes crumbling road infra

Days of intermittent rain and persistent drizzle have reduced several roads in Hubballi and Dharwad to muddy, slushy stretches, and turning daily commutes into an ordeal and laying bare the poor state of civic infrastructure. Major roads as well as interior streets across the twin cities are riddled with slush, while potholes hidden beneath rainwater have become a serious hazard for motorists. Two-wheeler riders, schoolchildren and pedestrians are bearing the brunt, navigating slippery roads and waterlogged stretches with great difficulty.

The situation has worsened on roads dug up for under ground utility works and left unrepaired. Rainwater has mixed with loose soil, creating thick layers of mud that have slowed traffic and increased the risk of accidents. Residents say even a brief spell of rain is enough to make several roads nearly impassable. Pedestrians are forced to wade through slush, while motorists drive cautiously to avoid potholes concealed under muddy water. In many localities, passing vehicles splash muddy water onto shops and houses, adding to the inconve nience of residents.

Citizens have criticised the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), alleging that poor road restoration after civic works and inadequate stormwater drainage have aggravated the problem despite repeated complaints. Arun Badiger, a resident of Renuka Nagar on Gokul Road, urged the civic authorities to take up immediate repairs, improve stormwater drainage and restore damaged roads before the situation worsens further. He said roads in Rama lingeshwar Nagar and other localities around Gokul Road have deteriorated significantly following the recent rains.

Manjunath Hosalli, a resident of Gamanagatti who commutes daily to the Tarihal Industrial Estate, said the damaged stretch between Gamanagatti and Tarihal has made travel difficult and unsafe. While the road from Navanagar to Gamanagatti has been restored, the remaining stretch continues to be in a deplorable condition and requires urgent attention, he said. Congress leader Rajat Ullagaddimath said the worsen ing condition of roads has once again exposed the poor quality of road construction and maintenance in the twin cities.

Alleging that the BJP-led corporation had failed to improve basic in frastructure, he said the party would soon launch a series of protests demanding better roads and civic amenities. Responding to the concerns, HDMC Commissioner Dr. Rudresh Ghali told News Trail that work orders have already been issued for road repairs under the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana (MGNVY). Nearly 44 km of roads have been identi fied for improvement. However, the contractor could not begin the work due to the prevailing weather conditions.

"The repair work will commence as soon as the rains subside," he said. Dr. Ghali also clarified that roads beneath the under-construction flyover do not come under the jurisdiction of the HDMC. However, the civic body has been urging the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to make the stretches motorable and expedite the road improvement works. May or Durgamma Bijawad did not respond to our multiple calls.