BENGALURU: Potholes and bad stretches of road have brought down the average peak-hour vehicular speed over the past year in the Central Business District of Bengaluru by more than 40%, said traffic police, based on their observations.

According to cops, the average speed in the CBD has come down from 18kmph to 10kmph. On some stretches, it drops to 8kmph.

submitted a list of over 2,000 potholes, along with photographic evidence to BBMP, requesting these be filled up on priority.

BR Ravikanthe Gowda, joint commissioner of police (traffic), said potholes were slowing down traffic and causing accidents. “A car or an autorickshaw moving slowly to avoid potholes can prevent at least 3-5 two-wheelers from speeding. A slowmoving heavy vehicle like a bus or a truck will hold up at least 20 vehicles behind them. One can imagine how thousands of vehicles on potholed roads end up moving at a snail’s pace. Once potholes are filled, the average speed of peak-hour traffic could regain 18kmph,” he said.

Another senior traffic police officer said that in some areas like

, Bannerghatta Road, Adugodi, Jalahalli, KR Market,

Road and Outer Ring Road, vehicles move at less than 6.5kmph. “Some roads have potholes and obstructions like barricades erected for construction of flyovers or Metro Rail. Traffic movement on these roads is a bumper-tobumper crawl,” he said.

Craters dangerous for lives and vehicles: Expert

Recently, doctors had said most accident cases they see involve two-wheeler riders falling off their vehicles due to potholes or bad stretches. A senior doctor at the trauma care centre of government-run Victoria Hospital said they see 5-6 cases of road accident injuries every day.

Sudeept Maiti, senior project associate (transport), World Research Institute India, said potholes impact the efficiency of vehicles as well. “Damaged stretches are a cause of concern since motorists tend to go slow and there is an unpredictability which eventually leads to accidents. Many motorists may lose their balance and fall or meet with accidents after they land in these potholes. Potholes are extremely dangerous for both lives and vehicles.”