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Monday, Sep 13, 2004

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Bhopal roads or death traps?

By Lalit Shastri

BHOPAL, SEPT. 12. The monsoon rains this year have played havoc with roads in the State capital. The top layer of even some of the most important roads in the city that are supposed to be meticulously maintained round the year to ensure smooth movement of VIPs has also been washed away making it hazardous and difficult for commuters to steer their vehicles through these pot-holed and broken roads.

After finding themselves in a tight corner over the poor state of roads at Ujjain that were constructed especially keeping in view the huge rush of pilgrims for the Simhasta Mahakumbha festival earlier this year, the concerned authorities are now facing the charge of corruption in the maintenance of Bhopal roads. People from different walks of life have started complaining and saying that it is a terrible experience driving on these "horrible" roads. They say that they are being forced to spend higher amounts on the maintenance of their vehicles. They further point out that it is unfortunate that the condition of roads in the State capital has deteriorated so much under the Bharatiya Janata Party- led State Government, which had come to power promising good roads. Chand Mian, who runs a small puncture repair shop at a petrol filling station near the Habibganj Police station in the new Bhopal area, drew this Correspondent's attention towards the pot-holed stretch of road right in front of the filling station. This road connects the busy 10 No. Market in Arera

Colony with Vaishali, Nehru Nagar, Indian Institute of Forest Management and the National Law Insitutute University beyond the Bhadbhada dam. He said that roads do get damaged during the monsoon season but this time the damage has been extensive and unprecedented. He said that more customers are now coming to his shop with flat tyres. This is a serious matter and is proving to be a traffic hazard. This remark gets corroborated by the sudden spurt in fatal road accidents in the State capital. Driving on roads in Maharana Pratap Nagar— the commercial hub of Bhopal— is a virtual nightmare. Link Road No. 1, which is one of the main roads connecting old Bhopal with the new city, now is a bumpy stretch between New Market and the Board office square. The road from Bhopal Talkies to Karond, where the Bhopal Memorial Hospital has been set up especially for the

victims of the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster, Berasia road, the roads connecting bus stand with Chhola, Pul Bogda with Ashoka Garden and Subhash Nagar

with the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited township are full of huge pot holes and driving through these roads one comes across stretches where the top layer has been completely washed away.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur, has even expressed concern over the condition of roads in the State capital. The State Principal Secretary, Urban administration and Development, D.S. Mathur has already completed a round of inspection of Bhopal roads. It is on the basis of his report that the State Government would be compelled to take some strict action against those found responsible for failing in their duty to maintain these roads. In the meanwhile, the main opposition Congress Party has gone on the offensive and the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee has even sought the removal of the State Minister for Public Works Department, Kailash Vijayvargiya, following reports that a high level committee of the State Government has taken serious note and upheld charges relating to the poor construction of roads at Ujjain.

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Bhopal roads or death traps?