Roads riddled with potholes in Mangaluru

After weeks of heavy rain, potholes have resurfaced on roads in Mangaluru city and on the National Highway from Nanthoor to Talapady.

The relentless rain that lashed the city has washed away the asphalt into the nearby drains, opening up old potholes, and creating new ones.

Potholes have turned into craters at many places in the city. Jeppu Market road is a thoroughfare for vehicles plying from State Bank area to Thokkottu and the stretch witnesses heavy movement of vehicles, particularly the vehicles that pass through Pandeshwar, Morgan's Gate and Mahakalipadpu is also filled with potholes on the stretch.

During the monsoon, commuters have to deal with large potholes on several spots at Thokkottu, Pumpwell, Pumpwell to Bendoorwell, near Jeppu Market, Bolar, Hoige Bazar, Hampankatte Junction, Jail Road, edges of the road at Navabharath Circle, Karangalpady and Bridge Road (connecting Jyothi and Balmatta), Nanthoor Circle and so on.

The interlocks laid on several locations in the city including at Lalbagh have slipped aside, developing new potholes. The road towards Rosario Church road after the railway crossing also has a lot of potholes.

To avoid these potholes, many drivers tend to move on the right side of the road and come face-to-face with vehicles moving in the opposite direction.

"Pedestrians are the worst affected as they have to use umbrellas to protect themselves from water getting splashed onto them by speeding vehicles," said Vani.

"Luckily, major roads inside the city are concreted. Otherwise, the bumpy ride would have caused inconvenience even to those commuters using major roads in the city. However, potholes in the middle and on the edges of the roads have surfaced on several locations," said another motorist.

Hrishikesh, a college student pointed out that owing to the damaged roads from Kallapu to Thokkottu, the traffic sets on snail speed during peak hours. With the high density of vehicles in the rains, it takes nearly 30 minutes to travel short distances of nearly one-kilometre.

At Thokkottu, a few locals and auto drivers had covered a few potholes with crushed stones. However, they were washed away in the rain.

The two-wheeler riders find it difficult to judge the depth of the water-covered potholes.

The traffic police blame the potholes for the traffic congestion. The civic authorities blame the monsoon for the potholes.