NT Impact: Days after pothole death, BBMP finally acts, fills craters on Magadi Road

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Residents of Kamakshipalya on Magadi Main Road heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday as the civic authorities finally asphalted the damaged road that had been causing mishaps.

A teacher had died after the two-wheeler she was riding pillion ran into a pothole following which she fell down and came under the wheels of a truck on January 30.

News Trail had written about the pathetic condition of the road. Deepak Kumar, a resident of Anjana Nagar said, “We had lost hope but within days after the NT report, the road was laid.”

Residents and commuters of Kamakshipalya on Magadi Main Road were on Sunday relieved to see the civic authorities finally asphalt the damaged road that was in the news for causing accidents.

Deepak Kumar, a resident of Anjana Nagar, told News Trail, “We tried our best to see that the road was laid, and finally had lost hope. But within days of the newspaper hitting the stands, the road was laid,” he said.

“If only the authorities had been more careful, they could have avoided many accidents here, including the teacher’s death,” Deepak added.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) which had dug up the road had failed to restore the road after completing the work. Road accidents and traffic jams had become common on this stretch, complain locals.

“The condition of the Magadi main road had long been neglected by the authorities. For them Bengaluru exists only in the Central Business District and posh localities of the city,” Jairam, a commuter complained. “But it took many accidents to make them fix the road,” he lamented.

BBMP has begun the patch work to repair the roads dug up for the pipeline. “Finally the authorities have woken up from their slumber. There is no more traffic congestion and dust now. Let’s hope that the road remains in good condition and does not get washed away during the next monsoon,” another resident said.

Reacting to an article published in these columns on Thursday, A senior BBMP official told News Trail that the delay in asphalting the road was caused due to various issues, including lack of funds.

Magadi Main Road was one of the city’s worst-hit black spots as the shoddy road conditions had made lives miserable for the residents and commuters on this stretch. The road, which starts from Tollgate, is maintained by the BBMP until the Nice Road. It is a well-laid road till Sunkadakatte via Kamakshipalya. Though many potholes have been filled up, some more need to be fixed.