Bengaluru: Amidst criticism from the general public that the BBMP has failed to repair the city roads even though the pre-monsoon rains are around the corner, the city police have started the pothole filling exercise.

The locals say that the police did not wait for the BBMP to fill the potholes as they find it difficult to manage the traffic whenever it rains.

According to sources, in the last one week, the police have filled 221 potholes under the 44 police station limits.

“Every year traffic police officer used to send a report to the BBMP in regard to the potholes fearing it may cause accidents and result in waterlogging. As the BBMP is not showing any interest to act on our reports, we decided to take up the repair works on our own. In many places, JCBs are used to fill the big potholes. We hire the labourers to fill the potholes with concrete mix,” informed the police.

“Another 41 places where waterlogging is reported from last year is also repaired,” added police sources.

According to P Harishekaran, additional commissioner of police (traffic), in the last 8-9 months over 1,200 persons died in various accidents. “Poor road condition is one of the causes of the accident. Protecting the valuable lives is our responsibility,” he said.