Bantwal: Most people travelling on Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway were in for a surprise when they saw a banner on the road on Friday morning with the words: Caution – No 1. Parliamentarians’ swimming pool, drive slowly! Well, the words gave a clear picture of the state of road near B.A. College where there is sharp curve. This stretch near Thumbay is always waterlogged and the road looks like a swimming pool filled with innumerable potholes.
         Banner put up on Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway: Caution – No 1. Parliamentarians’ swimming pool

Few days ago, people used fishing nets to demonstrate the depth of water near the railway under bridge in Padil, where as this banner clearly showed the frustration of road users against the authorities concerned with road development and maintenance. The road has multiple pot holes where frequent road users struggle to pull their vehicles out when their vehicles get stuck.  It’s a herculean task to travel further once you are caught in a muddle. Some of them don the roles of weightlifters to pull their own vehicles and some plead passersby to assist them. This has been the feature on this stretch once the road became the National Highway and the words in the banner were appropriate according to those who have undergone hard times during travel.

When authorities fail to act people are left with options like protest and block roads. A few individuals who cannot muster enough public attention for their problems end up with bits of sarcasm.

Some passersby had a hearty laugh looking at the banner whereas a few others were seen taking photographs. The banner appeared on Friday morning which many feel was put up on Thursday night.

It remains to be seen whether the banner will succeed in driving the point home. Road users are eagerly looking forward for the reaction from NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) officials.