But one look at the road is enough to horrify anyone. Pot-holed, incomplete work, half-done ashphaltation, all these are enough to explain the pathetic condition of the road. For the last three months, the road is in the same condition.
The Department of Public Works has been assuring to repair the road, but the promises are yet to materialise. Being one of the most important road of the City, traffic on this stretch is often heavy. For people travelling from the old bus stand to the new bus stand, they will have to encounter this road near Mekka Circle. Buses, lorries, auto rickshaws, two wheelers, etc, often move on this stretch in large numbers.
Also, most residences of important persons - including that of the chief executive officer of the Zilla Panchayat, District Superintendent of Police, assistant executive engineer of the Zilla Panchayat are all located on this stretch. These officials also take this road. Ironically, the road adjacent to this stretch has been finely ashphalted. And this adjacent stretch is hardly used by the people.
Regular road-users
Residents from nearby layouts also use this road extensively. The ashphaltation work is half-done and the remaining portion of the stretch is filled with gravel stones. When these stones come in contact with vehicle tyres, they hit into the faces of the citizens. The owners of the shops on this stretch are often on tenterhooks, as their window panes and glass showcases are victims of stone-hits. A few days back, a stone bounced from a speeding vehicle and hit hard on one of the long glass doors of Chowdeshwari Enterprises, shattering it into pieces. Luckily, no casualties were reported.
Earlier, an advocate, who got injured, he filed a complaint at Galpete police station against the PWD engineer.
All these have failed to yield any result. The condition of the road remains the same. Those who take this road have to face some kind of problem or the other. Even a little negligence will lead to atleast a tyre puncture or skidding of vehicle. Angry over the state of affairs, the members of Galpete Nagarikara Hitarakshana Vedike have expressed their irk.
Snap protest
On July 16, the members resorted to snap protest urging the authorities concerned to repair the road. They had staged a rasta roko, but the district administration failed to respond. Even two months after the dharna, the Public Works Department is yet to take action.
Just a few days back, a delegation led by the City Municipal Council president and the vice-president had met the officials of the PWD and had urged for its repair. As usual, only promises were made.
The people are only wondering what can actually make the department to wake up from its slumber and respond to the people’s problems.
