BANGALORE: Brigade Road is generally divided into two stretches. While one basks in the glory of being called one of the busiest shopping areas in Bangalore and drawing to it, people from all over the world, the other, seems to be ignored at the cost of the many commuters it receives everyday.The expanse of the road just after War Memorial until the Hosur Road junction is covered with large craters. The road also faces a routine overflowing drainage problem in addition to the traffic issues. This oneway road regularly sees vehicles from Brigade Road, MG Road, Museum Road and FM Cariappa Road.Near the traffic junction, the complete region is covered with several large potholes. The depth of these potholes are also a severe cause of worry. The one closest to the junction has sunk in a good few inches into the ground.Buses also use this comparatively narrow road.Most motorists tend to avoid the road. They usually take the parallel road. However, when four-wheelers do use the road, they tend to keep to the left side of the road, thereby causing a jam. Crushed stones bare testimony to the half hearted attempt by the authorities to cover up the patch. But the same attempt seems to have backfired as stones and pebbles lay strewn all over the road now.A pedestrian, Shalini, remarked, "This has been our situation for many years now. The road needs to be mended. Despite a few minor accidents the authorities have still not taken it seriously.” These potholes are filled with water and hence the depth cannot be gauged.Manju, a motorist, uses the road daily to get to his office near Richmond Circle. He said, “The lack of proper streetlights and the water logged potholes make it a nightmare for us to use the road. The bikes end up skidding and slipping due to the loose stones and the wet road. It is extremely dangerous for two-wheelers.”A recurring overflowing drain dilemma is also something that the pedestrians need to deal with. A shop owner, on the condition of anonymity, asserted, “It is an issue we have to face every month. The stench is unbearable.” With a similar kind of situation involving potholes in the counterpart shopping street of Bangalore, Commercial Street, people wonder about whether a situation like this will drive shoppers away.K Shivakumar the local corporator said, “I do realise the inconvenience it causes to the travellers. We have tried working at night. But the rain washes away all our efforts within just a matter of 15 days. We are waiting for the rains to stop.” He further added that a temporary solution will be found and that he would ensure that the hassle is sorted within the next four days.As these potholes continue to dig deeper into the ground, commuters and pedestrians ask if the authorities will also continue looking at their situation with apathy.
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