Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah directs BBMP officials to make Bengaluru roads pothole-free within 15 days

Bengaluru: Facing heat over battered city roads becoming a nightmare for commuters claiming three lives in the past one week and leaving scores of others injured, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday directed the civic agency to make the city roads pothole free within a fortnight. On Sunday, a woman, identified as Radha (47), lost her life when she was run over by a truck at Pantharapalya near Nayandahalli. She was riding pillion with her nephew Ravi Kumar (24) in a bike which skidded while negotiating a crater like pothole. [caption id=“attachment_3384690” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Siddaramaiah. PTI[/caption] The state government and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city civic body, came under sharp criticism following the incident. Siddaramaiah on Monday visited the spot where the accident took place. He was accompanied by Bengaluru mayor S Sampath Raj and BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad. Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said unprecedented rains this year had badly damaged the city roads. The chief minister said “This year we received rains like never before due to which potholes have surfaced on the road. This accident should not have happened. No one should die. I condole the death of the woman. Already compensation has been given (to the next to the kin of deceased).” The chief minister said the civic agency lacks expertise to fill potholes when the rains are on. Siddaramaiah said he had directed the mayor to make the city pothole free in a fortnight. “This is the first step. Our next step will be asphalt and white-top important road.Wherever metro rail is coming up, such roads have been handed over to Bengaluru Metro Rail. The chief minister said he had directed the BMRCL managing director PS Kharola to get the roads asphalted. A couple was killed a week back when a Tamil Nadu state transport corporation bus hit their bike. The couple with their granddaughter was returning from hospital with their granddaughter when the mishap occurred on Mysuru road flyover,where the motorist slowed down his bike to negotiate a pothole and was hit by the bus from the rear. Their granddaughter escaped with minor injuries.