By ASHWIN MAHESH
Square sections of tar have appeared on various roads, as BBMP and the government scramble to resurface the city. While these will provide immediate relief, they will also become the reason why we end up with the same problem later. This is the trap we need to get out of. In crisis mode, we must do something now and not guarantee a future crisis.
There is only one way to solve the problem. We have to bite the bullet, and start doing the things that will solve the problems in the long run, even if it means enduring some more pain today. The public will understand, if what is being put in place is a more permanent solution.
If the roads are merely resurfaced, the job can be done in 6-8 months. But in short order, various people will begin digging the roads — e.g. home owners connecting to power and water lines, or BWSSB searching for its next leak / blockage.
If, on the other hand, we decide to do it right — by making road widths uniform, allocating a minimum width space for the footpath, ducting the utilities, and making the entrances to all properties in line with the footpaths, and strengthening the surface — that will take time, and can’t be done in time for the elections.
If I had to guess, I don’t think that voters will reward ‘good roads’ done hastily which they know won’t last. If anything, their impression about road conditions is more or less settled by now. Much better, therefore, to do it right this time. Even if it takes a while.
Every city in the world needs a program to deal with deteriorating road conditions. The good ones anticipate it better, and prevent it better. Neither of these can be done fully, in any case, but both can go a long way towards keeping roads in fairly good condition.
– Build to a better quality, using stronger materials.
– Design well, and separate the utilities properly.
– Pay particular attention to areas where road friction is high.
– Create forward contracts to fix newly formed potholes quickly.
– Let local citizens know and participate in all of this, in every ward.
These can work. The existing ones will not, by and large.
Ashwin Mahesh is the CEO of Mapunity and a visiting faculty with the Centre for Public Policy at IIM Bangalore.
© Oorvani Foundation/Open Media Initiative. Also available online at citizenmatters.in
