Ooh, aah, ouch! Welcome to Delhi’s own Fleet Street

Pedestrians and kiosk-owners says the stones are more dangerous as they keep ricocheting in different directions under cars tyres.

Says Capt V.A. Sharma, an executive in J.K. Industries: “The poor maintenance of roads in the Press complex not only disrupts vehicular traffic, but also adds to pollution levels.” Sharma is one of those who has raised the issue several times in the past one year with the authorities. And the latter have apparently obliged with mud and stones every time.

“It requires a lot of skill negotiating the potholes. Riding over these huge stones now is a nightmare,” says Nitish Awasthi, who is a manager in a computer firm and rides a scooter to work.

The worst-affected sections of Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg are near the subway. The potholes have gone but the earth and stones “have made life miserable” for panwallah Pawan Singh, who runs a kiosk alongside a juice shop.

“I sprinkle water on the earth several times in a day. That takes care of the dust, but not the stones,” says Singh, pointing towards a stone about 5 cm x 5 cm.“You never know when you will be hit by a stone flying from under a car tyre. I was hit twice today”.

In the past 15 years, recalls Jagbir Singh, Sharma’s neighbour, no attempt has been made to relay a new road. “Every year, the authorities dump stones or earth to plug the potholes, or repair the road in patches. Wait till it rains next time, you will not be able to walk through this section.