Rain chips away blacktop to create potholes on roads

The pounding rain has opened up potholes on many roads, making life difficult for motorists.

The rapidly disintegrating blacktop is also a hazard for pedestrians wading through water-filled potholes and not knowing how deep it could get.

The stretch near Sirsi Circle at the Mysuru Road flyover, Bannerghatta Road, Turubarahalli Main Road in Whitefield and Yelahanka are tough to commute, according to motorists. The stretch near Trinity Circle from Halasuru, at the heart of the city, is also in a dilapidated condition.

"Two-wheelers rolling along the stretch of Turubarahalli Main Road have a good chance of falling from the vehicle while slipping into potholes or colliding with other vehicles while trying to skirt around it," Whitefield resident Dhiman Ghosh said. "This is frustrating since the roads crumble and break away every time it rains," Ghosh added.

On Tuesday, one traffic police officer was seen filling the potholes near Peenya to make commuting slightly better on the stretch.

BBMP's engineer-in-chief M R Venkatesh said his colleagues from the civic body are filling the potholes when they get information about roads crumbling in the rain. "As of now, we have identified 1,261 potholes across the city," he added.

WhatsApp hotline

Last month, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister G Parameshwara gave out a WhatsApp number where citizens could report potholes immediately. Till July 11, 82 major potholes have appeared on the city roads, in addition to the 1,424 existing ones.

BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said the civic body immediately gets down to filling the potholes when a complaint comes in. Citizens can leave a message on WhatsApp at 9480685700 or call 080-22660000 to get them fixed immediately.