BHOPAL: Four days after TOI carried a story on crater-riddled roads of Bhopal and the grave threat they pose for commuters and their vehicles - citizens began sending pictures of back-breaking potholes, open drains and water-filled craters in different areas of the city.One such series of photographs was sent by social activist Abdul Jabbar of Hamidia Road - which is one of the busiest areas in the city.The 4.5km stretch poses risk at every turn with gaping drainage holes, garbage piles, and haphazard police barricades."The road was repaired by the public works department (PWD) at a cost of Rs40 crore but even public drains were not properly covered. With onset of the monsoon, it has become all the riskier to use the road. I sent pictures of the road to PWD officials and the municipal commissioner and even lodged a complaint on CM's helpline but there was no response from anywhere", said an upset Jabbar.Executive engineer of PWD (division 1) Praveen Sharma, which is responsible for maintenance of the road said, "Who told Jabbarji that Rs40 crore has been spent on maintenance of the road?" When the official was informed that Jabbar has filed a complaint with CM helpline stating the condition of Hamidia road and the added dangers due to the rainy season - despite Rs40crore spent on its repairing, Sharma said, "I know that the road from Pul Bogda to Bharat Talkies to Hamidia Road was freshly laid three years ago."When asked why PWD left the drains uncovered while laying the road, Sharma said, "We did what was proposed under the sanctioned project.""The road has been dug by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for some purpose and they have left it in its present sorry state," Sharma said.

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