BUDCO Forgot Road Repairs Three Months After Laying PipelinesRoads in Urdu Bazar and Hanuman Path in Poor Condition, Residents Struggle with Mud and Potholes
Bhagalpur : A pipeline project undertaken to improve the city’s water supply has now become a source of trouble for local residents. About three months ago, roads and lanes in Urdu Bazar and Hanuman Path near Tilkamanjhi were dug up for laying pipelines. However, even after the pipeline work was completed, the roads were not properly repaired. As a result, roads in both localities have fallen into poor condition, causing serious inconvenience to residents and commuters.
The situation has worsened because of the rain. Water is accumulating in the excavated sections, while mud has spread across several stretches. Potholes and uneven roads have created a constant risk of accidents for two-wheeler riders. Pedestrians, children and elderly residents are also being forced to move through the damaged roads with great caution.
Poor Condition of Urdu Bazar Road
The road in Urdu Bazar was dug up at several locations for laying the pipeline. Local residents said that after the work was completed, the road was neither properly levelled nor permanently reconstructed. The excavated portions were temporarily filled with soil and gravel, but rain and regular vehicular movement have damaged these sections again.
Residents Kumar Shanu, Abhimanyu and Ved Prakash said the road was not in very good condition even before the pipeline work. However, the situation deteriorated further after the excavation. During rainfall, potholes fill with water, making it difficult for vehicle riders to estimate their depth. This has increased the risk of motorcycles and scooters skidding or losing balance.
A large number of people use Urdu Bazar Road every day. The route is also used as an alternative during traffic congestion on major roads. As a result, the continuous movement of vehicles is putting further pressure on the already damaged road, and the potholes are getting bigger.
Travel Also Difficult in Hanuman Path
The condition of Hanuman Path near Tilkamanjhi remains equally serious. Several slabs were earlier damaged during drainage-cleaning work. Later, the road was dug up again for laying the pipeline. However, after the project was completed, no permanent road repair was carried out.
Residents Lalan Kumar, Chandrakant Singh and Kailash Kumar said that the road has remained in poor condition for nearly three months. The narrow lane had already created difficulties for both vehicles and pedestrians. The situation has now become more challenging because of loose soil, gravel and potholes left after the excavation.
During rainfall, accumulated mud makes walking difficult. Two-wheelers often get stuck, and there is a constant risk of people slipping and falling. Local residents have demanded that the road be repaired at the earliest.
Residents Demand Permanent Repairs
People from both localities say that the responsibility for restoring roads should be clearly fixed along with essential projects such as pipeline construction. Simply filling the excavated sections with soil is not a solution. The roads need to be properly levelled and reconstructed to their original condition.
Residents said that if the roads are not repaired during the rainy season, the potholes will become deeper and larger. This will increase the risk of accidents and could force local people to face the problem for an even longer period.
Project Deputy Director Assures Action
BUDCO Project Deputy Director Mohammad Saddam said that the agency responsible for laying the pipeline has been given strict instructions to repair the roads after completing the work. He said complaints regarding the lack of repairs in Urdu Bazar and Hanuman Path would be investigated. If the concerned agency is found to have delayed the repair work, it will be asked to explain the reasons, and necessary action will be taken.
Local residents are hopeful that the intervention of the administration and BUDCO will lead to the early repair of roads in both areas. They have demanded that the roads be permanently reconstructed rather than temporarily repaired, so that they do not face the same problems again during future rainfall and waterlogging.
