A 45-year-old man identified as Praveen Kumar, a resident of Uttam Nagar, was crushed to death by a truck on Saturday after he fell off his motorcycle that got “trapped” in a flooded pothole near Square Mall on Mehrauli-Mahipalpur road in the national Capital.
This is not the only road to have potholes. The road across Greater KailashII leading to Masjid Moth is covered with potholes. However, the municipal authorities and Public Works Department (PWD) claimed to have repaired the roads. Moreover the lane leading to BRT corridor right under the Chirag Dilli flyover had a pothole, which was fixed by civic authorities. But the potholes resurfaced as rain washes away cold-mix fill.
The marginal Pusta Road connecting old Iron Bridge to Khajuri Chowk, are in a pathetic state. Similarly, road connecting Kashmere Gate and Mori Gate are in bad shape and needs urgent repair, according to residents.
Officials in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) said due checks and plans are being made to repair the damaged roads.
But residents are not convinced by such claims.
“No one comes and conducts a check on the condition of roads, no matter what the conditions are. During rain, potholes cave in further and thus, it becomes difficult to ensure smoother movement of traffic. We are sure the contractors use substandard quality material to fill the potholes,” said a shopkeeper of a furniture market near lNJP Hospital.
Moreover, the North Municipal Corporation officials said previously the contractors filled the potholes only in the middle of roads, leaving aside the sideways and footpaths. After several rounds of complaints, the contractor carpeted the side areas. The road of CR Park pocket 40 behind Deshbandhu College still remains in a pathetic state despite residents filing several complaints to RWA and other civic authorities.
“We have been ensuring along all areas of North Delhi that the roads are properly paved and there are no potholes. It is difficult for people to assess the magnitude of the potholes, therefore we have been ensuring that the roads are proper,” said Sanjeev Nayyar, Mayor of North Delhi Corporation.
Every year, the trouble of potholes recurs during monsoon. While the local authorities claimed that they have spent crores on making roads potholefree, traveling across the length and breadth of the city remains a bumpy ride for Delhiites.