NHAI did Shabby Patch Work of filling Potholes near Nanthoor Circle after Activist’s Silent Protest

NHAI did Shabby Patch Work of filling Potholes near Nanthoor Circle after Activist’s Silent Protest

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) did Shabby Patch Work of filling Potholes near Nanthoor Circle after Activist Arjun Mascarenhas’s Silent Protest . Seems like there is some misunderstanding between the NHAI officials and Traffic Police authorities- according to the NHAI officials speaking to few members of MCC Civic Group had said that they want to fix the potholed road with the right concrete materials, while the traffic police authorities insist that the dilapidated road should be asphalted, since concrete work takes a long time (due to curing etc) and it would put motorists and commuters in hardship. While the traffic police blame the potholes for the traffic congestion, and the civic authorities blame the NHAI for the potholes- and it’s all in the blame game every year. So what would be the solution.

Mangaluru : After weeks of heavy rain, potholes have resurfaced on roads in parts of Mangaluru city, and one spot with “merciless” potholes that creates inconveniences and hardship to motorists and pedestrians every year is near the Nanthoor Junction, on the way from Kadri to Bikkarankatte. The relentless rain that lashed the city has washed away the asphalt into the nearby drains, opening up old potholes, and creating new ones. Potholes have turned into craters at many places in the city, and commuters have to deal with large potholes at several spots.

From 10 am until 3 pm on a treacherous Saturday, 12 October, Social activist Arjun Mascarenhas, a founder member of MCC Civic Group- a NGO which fights for the cause of the citizens on their civic issues, had taken a bold step on behalf of the 5 plus lakhs citizens of Mangaluru, pertaining to the potholes and dilapidated roads of Mangaluru. It may sound funny to many, as to what difference can a single young man could bring a solution or results to the current issue by staging a solo silent protest- but that’s not the point- at least Arjun had the guts to stand out to point out the laziness and carelessness of the concerned officials of the National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) and Mangaluru City Corporation, where they have turned a blind eye towards the bad condition of the City and NH roads.

And within few hours of Arjun’s solo silent protest, also joined by few other members of MCC Civic Group, NHAI officials brought their workers and did some patch work, and it seemed like “Just for the name sake “kind of work. The worse-case scenario for repair crews who were struggling to find and fix all the emerging potholes at this Junction, didn’t do the job right. Throwing some loose stuff in a hole and just hoping the traffic driving over it will fix it, did not serve the purpose. And with rains lashing the city in the last couple of days, has completely washed away the loose jelly stones, and it’s a total mess now- just like what it was before!

Seems like there is some misunderstanding between the NHAI officials and Traffic Police authorities- according to the NHAI officials speaking to few members of MCC Civic Group had said that they want to fix the potholed road with the right concrete materials, while the traffic police authorities insist that the dilapidated road should be asphalted, since concrete work takes a long time (due to curing etc) and it would put motorists and commuters in hardship. While the traffic police blame the potholes for the traffic congestion, and the civic authorities blame the NHAI for the potholes- and it’s all in the blame game every year. So what would be the solution.

It happens again and again and again- year and year and year after- and at the same locations of same streets/roads. I am talking about dilapidated roads filled with potholes. Heavy rains, heavy traffic and alternating periods of warm and cold have scarred local streets and the potholes pop up — and this has formed a
The evidence now says otherwise. I think the only way to solve the current pothole mess is to lay a two-layered concrete road with a seal coat but the problem is, our authorities I bet are busy playing blame games. By the way, motorists taking the way near Nanthoor junction towards Bikkaranakatte/Kulshekar are facing the brunt every single day, commuting through this route ridden with potholes and stranded water. As long as cheap quality tar is being used and layered too thinly, we will continue to have these problems every year.

Driving on Mangaluru streets, including road near Nanthoor circle is like an obstacle course. Drivers and riders keep swerving and maneuvering to make sure they miss every pothole. These potholes have also worsened the chronic traffic jams which Mangalureans face everyday, apart from driving through many other potholed streets in the City. Anyone who has had the misfortune of commuting on these streets will testify what a great pain the ride is – literally – owing to the numerous potholes that punctuate the road. I bet a ride on this stretch is akin to a ride on a ‘ camel’s ‘ back- just bumpy! Potholes aren’t just a nuisance for drivers; they also constitute dangerous safety hazards that can produce substantial damage to vehicles, force drivers to veer suddenly in traffic, or even cause the driver to lose control of a vehicle after contact. The gaping streets can also damage a car’s alignment and suspension system.

How can we ever call this City a SMART CITY, when we see a bunch of dilapidated and potholed roads existing at every nook and corner. Arjun Mascarenhas did his part by highlighting this issue! So while waiting for this Nanthoor Circle potholed road and many other bad city roads to be restored for a smooth ride, just brace yourself because it’s once again pothole season in Mangaluru. Until then bear with the potholes or curse someone at the MCC or NHAI— and still keep driving or riding, SAFE!