Roads resembling craters and trenches have made life hell for motorists in the city.Based on the degree of misery they are causing the citizens,Bangalore Mirror lists the worst-10 potholed arteries
Only a few days ago did we write about the corrupt nexus between contractors and officials who overlook the process of laying roads, resulting in city roads springing potholes within ten days. We didn’t stop at that. We undertook the task of listing out the ten worst bitumen stretches across Bangalore.
We spoke to a plethora of citizens for their inputs. Our office turned into a virtual courtroom that debated every inch of our roads. We had some miffed colleagues who felt their roads deserved the honour of being in the list.
The parameters were simple. Which was the stretch that made motorists’ life hell? Before you proceed, we would like to issue a disclaimer. The list is far from comprehensive. You may have roads inside the city which are even worse. But we have stuck to those stretches that are arteries of the city, which are frequented by most. So, here you have the ten worst roads.
We spoke to a plethora of citizens for their inputs. Our office turned into a virtual courtroom that debated every inch of our roads. We had some miffed colleagues who felt their roads deserved the honour of being in the list.
The parameters were simple. Which was the stretch that made motorists’ life hell? Before you proceed, we would like to issue a disclaimer. The list is far from comprehensive. You may have roads inside the city which are even worse. But we have stuck to those stretches that are arteries of the city, which are frequented by most. So, here you have the ten worst roads.
Horror roads
1. Mysore RoadMysore Road Stretch: 15 kmResponsibility: BBMP, BMRCL
Last tarred: Nobody recalls
It’s the mother of all bad roads. As the name suggests, it connects Bangalore and Mysore and sees a deluge of traffic, specially buses and trucks. According to Bangaloreans, the stretch from KR Market flyover up to RV Institute of Engineering is the road from hell.The controversial road-widening project is yet to take off, stumps of trees that have been chopped down still litter the sides, while the metro, which has dug up most of the road, makes it a nightmare for motorists, specially during the showers, earning it the ‘numero uno’ tag.
2. Magadi RoadStretch: 8-10 km
Responsibility: BBMP, BMRCL
Last tarred: 2006
This stretch of road from Iskcon temple to Mysore Road comes a full circle in infrastructure woes. The culprit, again, is the ongoing metro work. Residents are hit hard because they never know when it is going to be blocked or turned into a one-way. Private vehicles are out of the question and autos refuse to come to this hell-hole called Magadi Road. According to residents, metro is the only solution, which is not scheduled to start until 2014.
3. Kanakapura RoadStretch: 10-12 km Responsibility: BBMP, BMRCL Last tarred: 2010
This alternative road to get to Mysore is another arterial road that leads out of the city towards Kengeri. With a number of educational institutions, the stretch is frequented by students on their bikes. It is also used by heavy vehicles to deliver essentials from villages towards Kanakapura.
The combination of these two is often fatal. Even on the stretch between JP Nagar junction and NICE road junction, the main culprit is the metro work, which hinders traffic and scoops out the bitumen.
4. Jnanabharati campus RoadsStretch: 30 km of criss-cross roads Responsibility: Recently handed over the BBMP Last tarred: 2005 With more than 4,000 students who travel across Jnanabharati every day, the university authorities, who were responsible for the upkeep of the roads, did nothing for seven years. The responsibility recently shifted to the BBMP. However, they both forgot all about it.
The worst stretches on the campus are those that lead to National Law School, Sports Authority of India, NSS headquarters and a small stretch that links Outer Ring Road with Mysore Road.
Craters first appeared on the stretch between Nelamangala and Goraguntepalya. After the National Highway Authority of India set that right, the ‘hole’ issue moved to the Goraguntepalya-Yeshwanthpur stretch.
6. Outer Ring RoadStretch: 62 km around the city Responsibility: BDA/BBMP Last tarred: 2002
The ambitious project of turning the stretch into a signal-free corridor has seen a lot of digging, which has made it a mess. But we touch upon the Agara- Sarjapur stretch, which is among the most frequented by IT staff who live and work around the area. Drive on the stretch in front of Total Mall and you’ll know how bad it is.
7. Old Madras RoadStretch: 20 km (approx)
Responsibility: BBMPLast tarred: 2010
Cross the National Highway Authority of India limits and bone-jarring rides await you. Starting from Ulsoor lake all the way up to ITPL is a part of IT corridor. Yet, hour-long jams, fatal accidents and road rage incidents are common here. With lorries blocking half the road with illegal parking, the stretch can test even the best driver. The metro construction is a problem, but the real tragedy is, the BBMP doesn’t even want to take up the work.
8. Jayamahal RoadStretch: 3 km (approx) Responsibility: BBMPLast tarred: 2010In comparison to the other long-winding roads in the list, this one is less than 5 km. But as the saying goes, good things come in small packages or in this case, bad things come in small packages. The road is notorious. The junction near Doordarshan has enough potholes to make a grown man cry. It is another road which has not gone bad because of metro. The blame lies with the BBMP, whose only solution has been to axe the green cover, which make it at least remotely bearable to tolerate the long jams.
9. Yelahanka RoadStretch: 5 km (approx)
Responsibility: BBMP/NHAI
Last tarred: 2010
An important road since it connects to the BIAL and the NHAI is even laying a six-lane highway. But motorists continue to battle an uphill task navigating the stretch.
Service roads come to their rescue when jams stretch for a longer time. But being narrow and cramped themselves, they pose a bigger problem.
10. Chord Road
1. Mysore RoadMysore Road Stretch: 15 kmResponsibility: BBMP, BMRCL
Last tarred: Nobody recalls
It’s the mother of all bad roads. As the name suggests, it connects Bangalore and Mysore and sees a deluge of traffic, specially buses and trucks. According to Bangaloreans, the stretch from KR Market flyover up to RV Institute of Engineering is the road from hell.The controversial road-widening project is yet to take off, stumps of trees that have been chopped down still litter the sides, while the metro, which has dug up most of the road, makes it a nightmare for motorists, specially during the showers, earning it the ‘numero uno’ tag.
2. Magadi RoadStretch: 8-10 km
Responsibility: BBMP, BMRCL
Last tarred: 2006
This stretch of road from Iskcon temple to Mysore Road comes a full circle in infrastructure woes. The culprit, again, is the ongoing metro work. Residents are hit hard because they never know when it is going to be blocked or turned into a one-way. Private vehicles are out of the question and autos refuse to come to this hell-hole called Magadi Road. According to residents, metro is the only solution, which is not scheduled to start until 2014.
3. Kanakapura RoadStretch: 10-12 km Responsibility: BBMP, BMRCL Last tarred: 2010
This alternative road to get to Mysore is another arterial road that leads out of the city towards Kengeri. With a number of educational institutions, the stretch is frequented by students on their bikes. It is also used by heavy vehicles to deliver essentials from villages towards Kanakapura.
The combination of these two is often fatal. Even on the stretch between JP Nagar junction and NICE road junction, the main culprit is the metro work, which hinders traffic and scoops out the bitumen.
The worst stretches on the campus are those that lead to National Law School, Sports Authority of India, NSS headquarters and a small stretch that links Outer Ring Road with Mysore Road.
5. Tumkur RoadResponsibility: NHAI, BBMP Last tarred: 2010 (in parts)
The metro is back again with a vengeance. People who travel on Tumkur Road will tell you tales that will put Stephen King and Ramsay brothers out of business. The road again sees a lot of traffic given that many essentials travel to Yeshwanthpur market. But the problems are not continuous. They appear in parts.
Craters first appeared on the stretch between Nelamangala and Goraguntepalya. After the National Highway Authority of India set that right, the ‘hole’ issue moved to the Goraguntepalya-Yeshwanthpur stretch.
6. Outer Ring RoadStretch: 62 km around the city Responsibility: BDA/BBMP Last tarred: 2002
The ambitious project of turning the stretch into a signal-free corridor has seen a lot of digging, which has made it a mess. But we touch upon the Agara- Sarjapur stretch, which is among the most frequented by IT staff who live and work around the area. Drive on the stretch in front of Total Mall and you’ll know how bad it is.
7. Old Madras RoadStretch: 20 km (approx)
Responsibility: BBMPLast tarred: 2010
Cross the National Highway Authority of India limits and bone-jarring rides await you. Starting from Ulsoor lake all the way up to ITPL is a part of IT corridor. Yet, hour-long jams, fatal accidents and road rage incidents are common here. With lorries blocking half the road with illegal parking, the stretch can test even the best driver. The metro construction is a problem, but the real tragedy is, the BBMP doesn’t even want to take up the work.
8. Jayamahal RoadStretch: 3 km (approx) Responsibility: BBMPLast tarred: 2010In comparison to the other long-winding roads in the list, this one is less than 5 km. But as the saying goes, good things come in small packages or in this case, bad things come in small packages. The road is notorious. The junction near Doordarshan has enough potholes to make a grown man cry. It is another road which has not gone bad because of metro. The blame lies with the BBMP, whose only solution has been to axe the green cover, which make it at least remotely bearable to tolerate the long jams.
9. Yelahanka RoadStretch: 5 km (approx)
Responsibility: BBMP/NHAI
Last tarred: 2010
An important road since it connects to the BIAL and the NHAI is even laying a six-lane highway. But motorists continue to battle an uphill task navigating the stretch.
Service roads come to their rescue when jams stretch for a longer time. But being narrow and cramped themselves, they pose a bigger problem.
10. Chord Road
Responsibility: BBMP/Metro Last tarred: 2-3 yrs ago (approx)
Chord Road is a vital link connecting Tumkur Road to Mysore Road via Magadi Road. But, this road has been in a mess for a long time. The infrastructure projects (Navrang and Chord Road-Magadi Road underpass) went on for a long time, throwing traffic into a mess. Now, metro work has made travelling a hellish experience. The road is narrow and always choked with traffic, but potholes have made life miserable for users.
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