Mangalore, June 17: Over two weeks of incessant rains have not only unleashed the sub-standard asphalting work carried out recently by the Mangalore City Corporation at many places, but also exposed loopholes in the civic body's monsoon preparedness.
Instead of bringing a sigh of relief; monsoon is creating hardship for citizens, thanks to the negligence of MCC towards potholes on the busy roads, where stagnating rain water has been causing traffic hindrances.
A point in case is the busy road near Milagres Church, where motorists and heavy vehicle drivers are facing immense hardship. The road has remained jammed as rain water is accumulated in huge potholes.
According to the regular passers-by the civic body is responsible for the chaos. “The MCC has failed to handle the situation which has led to citizens' inconvenience. If this is the condition at the beginning of the monsoon season, what will be the condition when rainfall will reach its peak," said Nithin Kumar, a motorist.
The road condition in Mallikatte, Shivbagh and other areas where asphalting was done just a month before the rains is almost washed off in one weeks rain, which has left the residents seething in anger.
Gerard Towers, a resident of Shivbagh says that the asphalting was done on May 20 and within a fortnight it was 75% washed off, blaming it on sub standard work. He pointed out that the asphalting done on Mercara Hill Road in November last year, Upper Bendore, was of much better quality. “It will also get washed off as the road is not level and the pits have been collecting water, says Arun Noronha, another resident.
Shivbagh Corporator Gretta Rebello squarely blames on the Corporation officials in delaying calling for tenders and taking up the work late just before monsoons.
The road connecting the Kadri Temple Arch and the St. Agnes Church, which was asphalted just over a month ago, is fast deteriorating within a few days of heavy rains.
Mithun, an autorickshaw driver, said: “It was just about a month ago that I had a good ride on this road. But now the road is again back to the same state as it was earlier,” He was among the motorists who feel that the condition of the road will worsen in the days to come.
Signs of wearing out of asphalt are there all along this 300-metre stretch with puddles of water found at frequent intervals along the road. Big potholes have surfaced near the Vaas Bakery outlet.
Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner KN Vijayaprakash said he had asked for a technical report from the Executive Engineer. “We cannot tolerate poor execution of work. Action will be taken against all those responsible for the poor execution of work,” he said. The contractor and the engineer concerned would be asked to bear the cost of repairing the road, he added.
Mr Vijayaprakash said the road connecting the Kadri temple arch at Mallikatte and St. Agnes Church was among the several roads which were vulnerable to rain. The corporation would consider having heavy interlocking tiles or concrete laid on the vulnerable roads, he said.
Kadri
Kadri
Kadri
Kadri
M G Road
M G Road
M G Road
Milagres
Milagres
Milagres
Milagres
Hampankatta
Hampankatta
Badriya Road
Badriya Road
Badriya Road
Bunder
Near Fishing Port
Kadri Junction
M G Road
Near State Bank
Near St. Agnes
Near St. Agnes
Near St. Agnes
Near Vaas Bakery
Near Vaas Bakery
Near Jyoti Circle
Near Jyoti Circle
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