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Speak up Delhi | Road trap: Killer potholes, rising death toll & authority's apathy

Delhiites rue that despite taking up the issue with the PWD, no progress has been made

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A study conducted in 2016 found that on an average, six people died in accidents every day due to potholes
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The death of a 61-year-old man in Civil Lines last week has once again thrown the spotlight on the poor condition of roads in the Capital and the indifference of the Delhi government's Public Works Department. The victim, Jagdish Sukhija, fell off when his scooter hit a pothole on a road next to Metcalfe House and bled to death despite wearing a helmet.

This is the second death reported due to potholes in the city in the past three months. In August, a school teacher was run over by a bus when she lost her balance and fell off her scooter after hitting a waterlogged pothole. A 35-year-old motorcycle-borne man met a similar fate in 2016 in Vasant Kunj.

According to data available with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, 10,876 people lost their lives due to potholed roads in 2015. The number saw a marginal dip from 2014 which reported 11,106 deaths.

Another study in 2016 found that on an average, six people died every day due to potholes with Uttar Pradesh recording the maximum number of deaths at 714 followed by Maharashtra at 329.

Badly constructed roads and their poor upkeep have been a cause of worry for residents across the city, who rue that in spite of taking up the matter with the PWD, which is responsible for the maintenance of roads, they are often left unattended for months together, leaving them with no option but to "adjust" to the situation.

Monsoons make matters worse when roads in many areas give way and waterlogged potholes spread across the length and breadth of the city.

Residents Welfare Associations in various areas, as well as local area councillors routinely take up the matter with the PWD for better roads, but their pleas fall on deaf ears. For people who pay taxes for better civic facilities, they lament that they are not getting the worth.

SIMILAR CASES IN THE CITY

  • The death of a 61-year-old man in Civil Lines last week is the second death reported due to potholes in the city in the past three months. 
     
  • In August, a school teacher was run over by a bus when she lost her balance and fell off her scooter after hitting a waterlogged pothole. 
     
  • A 35-year-old motorcycle-borne man met a similar fate in 2016 in Vasant Kunj.

Every political party makes tall claims ahead of municipal elections but nothing actually happens on the ground. Potholes are causing a lot of trouble in our locality. We think twice before allowing our children to play on the streets even in residential areas. The authority should take serious note of it and address the issue.
Mohita Khari, Civil Lines resident

We pay taxes so that our government can provide us with better civic infrastructure. It is unfortunate that civic agencies are so lackadaisical towards roads and callous towards people dying on the streets because of potholes.
Benul Tomar, Vasant Kunj resident

The risk of potholes are immense and authorities do not seem to grasp the dangers it poses. They keep passing the buck every time an accident occurs, and nobody is held responsible. Sign boards should be put up warning people whenever repair work is on. however, But authorities do not want to take preventive measures to avoid any untoward incidents.
Sandeep Bali, RWA, Mehrauli resident

During election time, politicians come to us with tall promises of better roads. The reality check is contrastingly different. No one bothers about the plight of the common man. The PWD department won't be doing us any favour by providing the same as it is our right to have good roads. Why else do we pay huge amounts of money as tax?
Siddharth Parashar, Rohini resident

You have to be very careful while walking on the road. Many potholes in my area are not even properly covered and the authorities are least bothered. A pothole in our locality has been left open for more than 10 days now. The RWAs of our locality have also written to the authorities but nothing has been done so far.
Shalini Verma, Lajpat Nagar resident

There are no warning signs put up near potholes. The authorities have no sense of planning and in managing this civic mess. Despite repeated requests to fill up potholes, authorities turn a deaf ear. At times, we (the residents) have called labourers to fill them up.
Shradha Gupta, Rohini resident

EXPERT SPEAK

We have given them suggestions on various roads across the capital like Savitri Cinema, and flyovers like DDA, Punjabi Bagh, IIT, Bikaji Cama Place among others to maintain them. The implementation of those recommendations, however, is very poor. Other than roads falling under NDMC, the entire capital is grappling with bad civic amenities. Not only the roads are ill-maintained, the lack other basic features like signage, markings etc. No wonder, they are fast emerging as killers

S Velmurrugan, expert from Central Road Research Institute (CRRI)

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