Beyond the glitz and glamour of the so-called developing Besa-Beltarodi, the stark reality is in contrast with people’s expectations. Everybody thinks that the area is a growing and emerging locality, but only residents living there know the ground reality behind the rotten system inside. If roads could speak, the stretch behind Beltarodi Police Station would scream for help. But, this is hardly one stretch, even the concrete road from Besa T-point to Beltarodi Police Station is in such sorry state that, people have stopped complaining as they feel their suffering does not matter to authorities anymore. Every crack, every pothole and every unnecessary speed breaker tells the same story - a story of neglect, ignored complaints and disappearing accountability. Instead of connecting people safely, the road has become a daily obstacle course where commuters weave through damaged patches while battling the unbearable stench from the nearby dumping yard.

 

With the monsoon just around the corner, the situation is on the verge of becoming even more hazardous. Rainwater will soon conceal deep potholes and broken sections, turning an already dangerous road into a potential accident zone. The question residents continue to ask is that does administration need a tragedy before it finally takes notice. “This is not a road anymore, it’s an obstacle course. Every day, we dodge potholes, brake suddenly for random speed breakers. One heavy shower is enough to turn this stretch into a death trap,” lamented Sunil Verma, a daily commuter. Despite repeated complaints and public appeals, the damaged road continues to deteriorate, while authorities remain silent spectators. The foul smell from the adjacent dumping yard only worsens the misery, leaving residents to deal with poor sanitation and unsafe roads at the same time.

 

“If something unfortunate happens tomorrow, the responsibility will lie squarely with those who chose to ignore the problem,” said Sneha Kulkarni, another resident. Bharat Nandanwar, Chief Officer (CO), Besa-Pipla Nagar Panchayat, told ‘The Hitavada’ that, they are aware of the situation and have taken the issue with utmost urgency. “The repairing work of the road and filling of the potholes will start within two weeks. “People do not understand that dumping garbage in the area will worsen the condition for all. This is not about authority, but about common people who forgot basic civic sense,” he added. If immediate repairs and corrective measures are not undertaken, the administration will have no excuse when negligence turns into tragedy.