Protest over deplorable condition of roads in Mysuru

Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists staged a demonstration outside the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) office on Sayyaji Rao Road on Thursday, protesting against the deplorable condition of roads in many parts of the city. 

Several arterial roads and streets in residential areas across the city lie pothole-ridden and neglected, with underground drainage and road works left unfinished. 

Instead of merely carrying out patchwork by laying asphalt during the Dasara season, the protesters demanded that the roads be developed with quality materials to ensure long-term durability, the CPI (M) said in a representation to MCC Commissioner M.K. Savitha.

The white-topping road works, which have been taken up in many parts of the City, are not only causing traffic disruption during the scheduled work hours, but are also forcing people to commute amid dust. The failure to complete these works in a timely manner has further aggravated the problem.

Contending that half-finished work on several roads had led to further potholes, the memorandum signed by CPI (M) Mysuru District Committee’s Secretary Jagadish Surya and Mysuru City Local Committee’s Secretary N. Subramanya, referred to the additional inconvenience caused to the public and motorists from the clogged drains and overflowing manholes that had resulted in sewage and wastewater flowing onto the roads.

The protesters had listed several major roads and residential areas in the city including the stretch from the Kuvempunagar Complex to Andolana Circle, Vivekananda Circle, Srirampura and Anikethana Road from Cauvery School to Jnanaganga School, Sharadadevinagar, Sahukar Channaiah Road, the main roads from 5th to 9th Cross in Bogadi II Stage, 7th Main Road in Saraswathipuram, the Swimming Pool Road, the Police Station Road in Ramakrishnanagar, Vinayakanagar, N.R. Mohalla, Mandi Mohalla, Shaktinagar and Lakshmipuram, among the areas that had unfinished underground drainage and road works.

“While this has created a dust problem, the rains have further worsened the condition of the roads. During rainfall, water accumulates on the roads, making it difficult for people to commute. During heavy rains, particularly at night, there have been instances of people falling into potholes that are submerged in flowing water and meeting with accidents. People are thus being forced to travel on foot and drive vehicles at considerable risk to their lives,” said the memorandum by CPI (M).

Road humps

Another issue is the danger posed by road humps that have been installed indiscriminately and without following scientific norms. “These humps are making it difficult for senior citizens and women to commute,” the protesters said.

Therefore, the CPI (M) has urged the authorities to immediately take steps to repair the pothole-ridden roads and remove the unscientifically constructed road humps.