No response from BBMP; traffic cops start filling potholes

In an effort to tackle Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion that is exacerbated by heavy rains and waterlogged roads, the city’s traffic police have taken an unusual step --filling potholes themselves.

In an effort to tackle Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion that is exacerbated by heavy rains and waterlogged roads, the city’s traffic police have taken an unusual step --filling potholes themselves.

The traffic officials, armed with basic tools and materials such as choppers, ropes and shovels, fill the potholes temporarily by sourcing gravel, cement, sand and other materials from local contractors.

Talking about the pothole that was recently filled near Rampura Lake, Chaitanya, an official from the K.R. Puram Traffic police station, said, “It’s a heavy traffic area which also sees movement of heavy vehicles. So, we are taking local help and filling the potholes to ensure smooth traffic.”

The filling mostly happens in an ad-hoc manner.

“If a concrete mixing machine passes by, we request some concrete to fill up the pothole,” says Chaitanya.

According to the police, some of the most affected areas due to potholes and waterlogging are BEL Circle, Hebbala, Cantonment, Hennur, Varthur, Whitefield and K.R. Puram.

Commenting that some of the potholes are half the size of his vehicle, Nasar Ahmed, an auto driver from Vasanth Nagar, says, “The roads are in such a bad condition. The vehicle can turn over. There may be accidents. People might even die.”