As rain abates, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation all set to fill potholes in twin cities

HUBBALLI: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation will soon take up work to fill potholes in the twin cities.
Roads in Hubballi – Dharwad were badly damaged due to incessant monsoon rains and various political parties and residents had protested just a few days ago condemning the bad condition of roads. People had made memes and circulated them on social media platforms to ridicule the sorry state of roads.
HDMC had been planning to repair the roads but continuous rain did not allow the work to begin. As there has been no spell of rain in the recent days, the work of filling potholes will begin.
According to HDMC sources, a survey of damaged roads has been conducted by all HDMC zonal offices.
HDMC public relation officer SC Bevur said they will fill all potholes on priority and make roads motorable, adding the work orders have been given. “We have identified badly damaged roads and inspected potholes in all zones. Even during rainy days, potholes were filled immediately,” he said.
HDMC commissioner Suresh Itnal told TOI, “We are ready to fill potholes and we are expecting a grant from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF). We may get the funds once the model code of conduct in force due to MLC elections is lifted. Around Rs 3 crore will be spent from HDMC’s general grant to fill potholes.”
“We have to rebuild some roads which are badly damaged and hence road work will be taken up by spending Rs 20 crore. Grants under 15th finance commission and Mahatma Gandhi Vikas scheme will be utilised for this,” he said. Itnal added that PWDand Smart City projects would be developed by their respective departments.
Rajendra Kalawad, a senior citizen of Heggeri said the roads connecting Manjunath Nagar to Indi Pump is badly damaged. “Some portion of the road was concretised but the rest of it has remained as it is. It should developed immediately,” he said.