Pic: TEMPORARY SOLUTION: A HDMC worker fills up potholes in HubballiHubballi: Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has finally taken up works to fill potholes ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi, which starts on Wednesday. Various organisations that install Ganesha idols at public places in more than a hundred locations across the city have exerted pressure on HDMC to undertake road repair works, criticising the authorities for their apathy towards maintaining good roads and not taking up repair works, citing rains.Recent heavy rains have caused extensive damage to roads, creating numerous potholes. Most of the roads in the city are in bad shape, with deep potholes making travelling more risky and strenuous. Bowing to pressure from the public, HDMC has finally started works to fill these potholes ahead of the festival.Amaresh Hipparagi, secretary, Hubballi Sarvajanik Sri Ganeshotsava Samitagala Mahamandala, told TOI that Ganesha idols will be installed in more than 900 public places in the city, which also covers areas in Tarihal, Gabbur, and Kotagunasi. “As many roads leading to our pandals are in a bad state and full of deep potholes, we are now worried a lot about taking out processions and carrying huge idols on vehicles. So, we demanded the HDMC to repair all roads leading to pandals and in areas where idols will be installed at public places. It did not pay heed, citing rains. The roads were again damaged after heavy rains hit the city,” he said.“We also insisted on the district administration and local elected representatives to repair roads. Bowing to pressure, HDMC has now taken up pothole filling works ahead of the Ganesh festival, which is temporary work. We welcome the HDMC for filling potholes, but our demand is to take up quality works rather than filling potholes for name’s sake and temporarily. Now, KC Circle to Hosur Road is closed for flyover works; it should be cleared and opened for the Ganesh procession and to immerse idols in Hosur well,” Hipparagi demanded.Vijayakumar, superintendent engineer, HDMC, said: “We have taken up works to fill the potholes which are posing threat to the smooth movement of vehicles and to make roads motorable. We have selected around 50 roads that fall under areas where idols will be installed by sarvajanik ganeshotsav samitis. We are focusing on filling the potholes that appear on the 25 km stretch where festival processions will be taken out and also roads leading to wells and other water bodies where idols will be immersed, he said.HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali said strict instructions have been given to all zonal commissioners to fill up all potholes ahead of the festival and also attend to complaints on how to repair roads in their respective zones. “Road repair works at a cost of Rs 152 crore will be taken up in twin cities, and the tender process will be completed soon. Most of the interior roads were damaged, which will be given priority under this scheme,” he said.
