Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sep 2: Potholes have turned Mangaluru’s roads into deathtraps, with crater-like gaps posing daily danger to commuters — especially two-wheeler riders. Residents say it's only a matter of time before negligence leads to tragedy.
Just days ago, a motorcyclist narrowly escaped serious injury after hitting a deep pothole at the busy Nanthoor junction. In a stroke of luck, the driver of a Route 15 city bus spotted the incident and swerved in time to avert disaster. The pothole was hastily patched up with loose stones and cement powder — a makeshift fix already washing away in the rains.
Ironically, several other potholes in the same area, including at the junction itself, remain ignored.
Another rider wasn’t so fortunate last month near Padil, where he lost control navigating a pothole that still awaits repair. Entire stretches — from Padil to Maroli, the Padil underpass, Nanthoor, Bendorwell, and Pumpwell to Kankanady — are riddled with potholes, turning everyday commutes into a game of chance.
Auto drivers are fed up.
“It’s becoming impossible to drive without risking damage to our vehicles — or our passengers,” said Ravi, an auto driver operating near the Pumpwell junction. “Why collect taxes or tolls when we don’t even get basic roads in return?”
Locals allege that authorities only react after an accident occurs — and even then, only the specific pothole involved is patched up, often temporarily. Nearby hazards are routinely overlooked, left untouched until the next mishap forces action.
What baffles many is the mismatch between sanctioned funds and ground reality. A Rs 26 crore project was recently approved for the maintenance of the Surathkal to B C Road stretch. Yet potholes on this very route remain gaping, while toll booths continue functioning uninterrupted.
“It’s absurd,” said Farheen D, a commuter. “We’re paying tolls for roads we can’t drive safely on. Where’s the accountability?”
Despite multiple complaints and growing public outrage, little has changed on the ground. For now, Mangaluru’s motorists are left navigating treacherous roads — waiting, it seems, for a tragedy to finally jolt the system into action.