Three days of rain have exposed the poor condition of several roads across Bhopal, with damaged stretches, potholes and loose asphalt creating problems for motorists and pedestrians. Major roads such as Atal Path, Link Road No. 2, MP Nagar and New Market, along with several internal roads in residential areas, have reportedly deteriorated following the recent rainfall.

In several places, the bitumen has come off completely, while large potholes have appeared on roads used by commuters every day. The condition has also triggered criticism from the Congress, which has questioned the quality of road construction and maintenance work and warned of protests against those responsible.

Flyover Road Also Damaged

The condition of the road surface on the Dr Ambedkar (GG) Flyover, one of the city's major elevated road projects, has also come under scrutiny. At some locations, reinforcement bars are reportedly visible through the damaged road surface.

The flyover was constructed at a reported cost of around ₹154 crore. The deterioration following a few days of heavy rainfall has raised questions about the quality and durability of the road work.

Several other roads in the city have also suffered damage. Internal roads in areas including Ashoka Garden, Kailash Nagar, Semra, Shiv Nagar, Ayodhya Bypass, Patel Nagar, Anand Nagar, Arera, Rajiv Nagar, Aishbagh and Bagh Umrao Dulha have reportedly developed potholes and lost portions of their asphalt.

In parts of Ashoka Garden, residents say damaged stretches can be found at frequent intervals, making daily commuting difficult.

Major Roads Show Damage

The condition of some of Bhopal's prominent roads has also deteriorated.

Atal Path, also known as Boulevard Street, was constructed at an estimated cost of around ₹40 crore. The road has reportedly developed damage repeatedly, with maintenance work being undertaken periodically.

On Link Road No. 2, several stretches between Energy Bhawan and Seven Number Square have reportedly developed cracks and damaged surfaces.

Roads around New Market have also deteriorated, with loose gravel visible on the surface. The damaged stretches could increase the risk of vehicles skidding, particularly during wet conditions.

In MP Nagar, large potholes have reportedly appeared beneath and around the metro station area, creating difficulties for commuters.

Kolar Residents Raise Concerns

Road conditions in Kolar have also become a source of public concern.

The Kolar Congress held a protest on Tuesday over the condition of internal roads in Ward 82. Rahul Singh Rathore, president of Kolar Congress, released photographs and videos of the roads in Sarvadharm B Sector and alleged that repeated complaints to municipal officials had not resulted in repairs.

According to Rathore, the main road in the area has developed so many potholes that portions of the road surface are difficult to identify. The potholes have reportedly become deep enough for vehicle wheels to get stuck.

A car was also reported to have become stuck in one of the damaged stretches on Tuesday.

The Congress leader alleged that both elected representatives and officials responsible for the area had failed to address the problem.

Rain Brings Fresh Road Challenges

The road damage comes after heavy rainfall across Bhopal. According to the report, the city received around seven inches of rain in 24 hours, the highest single-day rainfall recorded in the season so far.

The heavy rain brought relief from the prolonged dry spell but also created problems in several parts of the city. More than 50 areas of the old city were reportedly affected by waterlogging, while the Berasia Road was closed temporarily.

Waterlogging was also reported on stretches of VIP Road and the Minal area, while fallen trees added to difficulties for residents.

With more rain possible during the monsoon season, the condition of damaged roads is likely to remain a concern for commuters and civic authorities. The immediate challenge for the municipal administration will be to repair potholes and damaged surfaces while ensuring that temporary patchwork does not deteriorate again with subsequent rainfall.