Rollercoaster Roads

Riding a two wheeler in Bangalore is nightmarish what with poorly lit roads filled with pot holes and the other big wheeler drivers thinking that the balancing two wheeled vehicle is a menace blocking their road, which prompts them to honk the two wheeler driver’s ears out. By the time the balancing act from one pothole to the other takes you to your destination in one piece, the clouds cry in pain and the ride is more bizarre and adventurous as the roads look like muddy swimming pools mingling with overflowing gutter water. You are lucky to reach home safe on such occasions. I sometimes feel the two wheelers should be able to convert into a boat, which can be paddled or rowed back home, a la James Bond, rather than the cocktail water entering your motors and stopping right in the middle of the floods.

This is not the problem of only Bangalore, this is the story of most of our cities and towns in India. Cities are bursting in its seams to accommodate the gradual influx of people. Indiscriminate usage of plastic has thrown our drainage system out of gear clogging them beyond management. Roads dug up are never repaired well, and the newly laid roads are so flimsy that they do not withstand a light shower leave alone heavy rains, potholes filling are again just an eyewash with the riders enjoying a temporary smooth drive until the next rains washes the filling leaving a bigger and more wider pothole.

Complaint and woes of citizens are unheard and we are given a saintly advice “Yenu madakke agolla, swalpa adjust madkolli saar” (Cannot do anything, please compromise sir”). A crestfallen citizen will ask “Yake Yake yenu madakke agolla, yella aagothe prayathana madidare” (Why…Why…you cannot do anything, of course something can be done if only we try…). Well I think we citizens should spread the awareness of environment at home and ban the usage of plastic completely. Encourage the usage of plastic, which can be recycled. Carry paper bags, thicker plastic bags, cloth bags or baskets to the market while shopping. About the maintenance of the roads, please citizens say “No Saar, adjust madkollakke agalla dayavittu sariyagi road repairy madi!” (No Sir, we cannot adjust please repair the roads properly!)