Potholes: PCB’s patch work doesn’t help motorists

“The slippery soil is risky for motorcyclists. My bike has skidded many times at this stretch. This soil doesn’t stay for more than two days and will only add to the mess. It was the same case last year too,” says Harish P Shivnani,a shopkeeper in Sachapir Street.

According to an official from the engineering department,the road could not be tarred before the monsoon due to the work on sewage line,which is yet to be completed in Zone 4 — under this comes,Sachapir Street,Bata Chowk,Vincent Street,Booti Street etc. “Only after the sewage work is completed can we tar these roads,” the official said.

However,he agrees that the soil is slippery. But,after filling with the bitumen-soil mix,no traffic should be allowed on the patch for at least a day,he said.

Chief executive engineer of PCB was unavailable for comment.

In most areas,the potholes were filled on Thursday. The road near St John’s Higher Secondary School at Vincent Street turns into a mess after an evening shower. “I don’t understand why they do it. The same story repeats every year. They should have foreseen the monsoon and hastened the sewage work,” says Ali,an autorickshaw driver.