Craters, slow works create nightmare for commuters

Ranchi: Incessant rain coupled with the slow pace of infrastructure projects has turned many road stretches in the city into muddy, water-filled craters, turning commuting into a nightmare.

Several areas, including Bahu Bazaar, Hinoo, Kantatoli and ITI bus stand, are grappling with massive snarls during peak hours.At Bahu Bazaar, ongoing construction has left the main road carpeted in a thick layer of mud. Two-wheelers are skidding frequently as tyres fail to find any grip on the slushy surface.“Commuting through Bahu Bazaar feels like an extreme sport. The loose soil mixed with rain has made the entire stretch slippery.

I saw two motorcyclists fall over this morning,” said Aniket Mishra, a commuter.A similar situation unfolded near the ITI bus stand on Tuesday, where upgrade work has reduced available space, forcing interstate buses to park on the main road. The resultant bottleneck, compounded by surrounding slush, has brought traffic to a standstill.“It took me 20 minutes to cross the bus stand area on Monday. Buses are blocking half the road.

Riding a two-wheeler next to the buses in rain is scary,” said Sunita Tirkey, a resident.Hinoo is facing a double blow of potholes and infrastructure work. Laying of an underground pipeline has created a large open trench, while the Hinoo-Airport Road has a series of water-filled potholes.SP (traffic) Rakesh Singh said, “The problem becomes worse during rains and traffic management turns difficult. People should be careful and drive slowly on cratered roads to prevent accidents.”Singh added, “We have informed the departments concerned and they have assured us that they will sort the issues out on a priority basis. We are doing our best to manage the traffic.”However, Ranchi mayor Roshni Khalkho blamed external agencies for bypassing norms, leading to uncoordinated digging across the civic body limits.“Departments should get a no-objection certificate from the Ranchi Municipal Corporation before carrying out any construction or repair, but it is not being followed. We have raised the issue in our board meeting as well,” Khalkho stated.