Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jul 11: The national highway is increasingly becoming pothole-ridden and is a cause for concern for motorists and commuters. Mangaluru is witness to heavy downpour during the last few days and the weather forecasts say that the city is likely to experience continued rainfall in the coming days.

During every monsoon, the potholes come back on the national highway (NH) at the same spot like previous year thus exposing the quality of road works on the road. Prominent junctions such as Nanthoor, Bikarnakatte, Pumpwell, Panambur and Baikampady have all turned pathetic following the recent heavy downpour.

Potholes have claimed several lives and also injured a few of the motorists due to the accidents that they induced.

The Padil-Panemangalore highway is pothole-ridden where patch work repairs were undertaken last month at Kannur and Adyar. The potholes have resurfaces barely a month later. Although there are a few small potholes, it is feared that they may pose a danger to motorists in the coming days if rainfall continues to lash the region.

Potholes become even more dangerous when water gets filled into them like a puddle as motorists are unable to judge its depth and it is also difficult to negotiate during the night.

The concerned officials and district administration has an onerous task of acting swiftly to fill the potholes and avoid further accidents. Besides, it is their responsibility to ensure that the roads are safe and motorable. On the other hand, members of the public are duty bound to bring such matters to the notice of the administration by raising their voice without waiting for any untoward incident to occur.

A young engineering student Aathish passed away after trying to avoid the pothole near Bikarnakatte. Later, there were protests staged over his death. Another student was seriously injured after he tried to avoid a pothole at Netravati bridge near Kallapu.

Two potholes have surfaced once again at the same spot where Aathish lost his life. Every year killer pothole have surfaced at Nanthoor Circle and the patch work that is taken up does not last long.

Speaking to daijiworld. Likhith said, “In August 2022, an engineering student passed away after trying to avoid a pothole at Bikarnakatte. We have witnessed heavy downpour but we need to think whether our roads are prepared for this monsoon and also whether drainage is good enough. If we travel from B C Road to Surathkal we can see potholes every 100 meters. We need to thank the youngsters who filled up the potholes at Bikarnakatte a few days back.”

He also said, “The other side of the road where Aathish passed away is again pothole-ridden. It is not a pothole but it is akin to a well at Nanthoor and Bikarnakatte. We don’t have leaders, NHAI does not any kind of responsibility. NHAI authorities are adamant about being approached or being questioned regarding the repair works.”

“Even people have stopped asking questions about the pathetic condition of the roads. Everyone shoots a video of the drainage at the Pumpwell junction and makes it viral but no one questions about the condition of our roads or the drainage. Crores of rupees have been spent on rejuvenation of lakes and on developing parks which is not wrong but at the same time authorities should have concern over people who lose their lives due to crater like potholes. When my friend Aathish passed away I was the only one to protest. We have leaders, authorities and student leaders but no one raised their voice. We need quality road work and the concerned leaders should take responsibility,” said Likhith.