Monsoon retreats, but Northeast Bengaluru still riddled with potholes

Bengaluru: The monsoon may be fading, but the nightmare for commuters in northeastern Bengaluru continues, with potholes turning daily travel into a hazardous ordeal.

Residents and motorists are demanding urgent action as key stretches — including Kothanur Main Road, the route from Gubbi Cross to Hennur-Bagalur Main Road, and parts of Hennur Main Road — have become treacherous obstacle courses, heightening fears of accidents and health risks.

The extent of road damage has made even routine travel a gamble, especially along Kothanur Main Road.

"It is a disgrace,” said Meera S, a software professional who commutes daily to Embassy Manyata Business Park. “The potholes here are not just bumps, they are craters. Last week, I saw a car nearly lose its axle after hitting one. Our vehicles cannot take this level of shock,” she said.

The situation is worse for two-wheeler riders, who are most vulnerable to the uneven, waterlogged surfaces.

Shivu, a delivery executive, called the stretch near Gubbi Cross a “death trap".

“During the evening rush, it is impossible to judge the depth of these craters, especially with streetlights not working. I have had several near misses. On the Hennur-Bagalur Main Road, swerving to avoid a pothole often pushes us into oncoming traffic. It feels like the authorities are waiting for a fatal accident before acting,” he said.

The main stretch of Hennur Main Road near the railway underbridge is in a similar state.

"Even the newly laid stretches do not last,” said auto driver Hameed Ali. "The patchwork is poor, and within weeks, a fresh series of cracks and cuts appear. The problem is not just the rain; it is shoddy work and the weight of traffic,” he said.