Bengaluru Potholes | 'Every Death Caused Due To Bad Road Condition Makes Us Feel Guilty': Karnataka High Court

A division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice S R Krishna Kumar said,

"The memo has been filed by respondent in compliance of earlier order, giving a work plan to repair potholes in the CBD area of Bengaluru city. We are not satisfied with the said work plan. We have discussed the problem with the Chief Commissioner (BBMP) and Chief Engineer, and want the filling up/repair of potholes in CBD district to be done on war footing and the roads in this area shall be repaired within 15 days."

Further the court said,

"We therefore direct the respondents to make a survey of all the existing roads in the CBD area of Bengaluru within 3 days, if the respondents want they may involve the agency which is already engaged in repair of potholes in the survey. The work of filling/repair of potholes shall commence on all major roads immediately and by using proper technology."

It added, "The Chief Commissioner (BBMP) and Chief Engineer, have assured the court that they will make all possible efforts to get the repairs of the roads on war footing and in 15 days time the major repairs would be done. On the assurance of the officers present we give 15 days time to respondents to get the work of filling up/repairing potholes in the CBD area of Bengaluru by using proper technology."

The court also directed the BBMP to place on record the survey report and status report of the work done on the next date of hearing.

Every death caused due to bad road condition makes us feel Guilty

The court also took note of the news report about the death of Ashwin, a private company employee, who was injured due to bad road conditions and later succumbed to his injuries.

The bench observed, "When we see a newspaper report of someone dying due to bad roads, we feel guilty." In its order the bench said, "We all feel very sorry for the untimely death of the young man."

The court also permitted the impleadement of authorities in the petition for the purpose of better coordination.

The directions were given during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by one Vijayan Menon in the year 2015, highlighting the problem of bad condition of roads in the city.

Case Title: Vijayan Menon v. Secretary Urban Development Department

Case No: WP 42927/2015