Potholes, dug-up streches turn Haralur Road in Bengaluru into extreme-sports arena

Bengaluru: Familiar woes, but a different address. For thousands of commuters, dodging potholes, skidding on slushy stretches and navigating overflowing sewage on Haralur Main Road are part of daily extreme sports, also called city commuting.The key arterial road, linking Sarjapur Road and Hosur Road in Bengaluru’s bustling tech corridor, continues to pose serious safety risks despite being hemmed in by premium residential complexes which are home to software professionals.Haralur Road has seen rapid growth in the past decade. The skyline has transformed dramatically, but civic infrastructure is trailing by decades.After congratulating the new chief minister, residents promptly handed him a list of long-pending civic issues demanding urgent attention just before the monsoon unleashes more worries. What was already a bumpy ride has now become a muddy obstacle course, with waterlogged potholes making it difficult for motorists to judge road conditions.Anand Kumar, an IT professional and resident of DSR Ultima who witnessed an accident near Narayana School, said, “A rider travelling with his daughter hit a pothole and lost balance. He somehow managed to avoid a serious fall but twisted his back and could barely move. He was holding on to an electric pole in pain when I reached him. These incidents are becoming common because of the condition of the roads.”Residents said the stretch between Haralur Village Junction and Birla Circle has remained in poor condition for six months. “Potholes are filled with gravel, without asphalting. Within days, the stones break loose. This is dangerous for vehicles and pedestrians,” said Rohit Gurnani, from Haralur.Nikhil, a commuter for four years, called the road the “worst” he’s seen. The road is narrow, constantly dug up and poorly restored. “I see at least one accident every week because of potholes, uneven patches and waterlogged stretches. During rain, it becomes more dangerous.”Residents flagged recurring drainage issues near the Narayana School stretch. An uncovered stormwater drain is frequently clogged by plastic waste, causing water to overflow onto the road. During rains, waterlogging often hides potholes and damaged patches.Bengaluru South City Corporation said the roads and drainage were in poor condition when the area came under its jurisdiction. “We are now carrying out drain works to improve water flow. After that, we’ll take up complete asphalting. We aim to complete drain works before the monsoon,” said Ravi A, chief engineer of the corporation.