Every time rains lash Bengaluru, the city's roads are washed away and people have to manage with potholes.
When people's complaint to civic authorities about the state of these roads fell on deaf ears, city-based artist Baadal Nanjundaswamy decided that 'usual' ways will not be enough, so he put his skills to use.
To attract the attention of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB), the two offices which are in charge of road maintenance, Nanjundaswamy came up with a crocodile-sized idea.The 36-year-old visual artist painted the giant pothole on the Sulthanpalya main road in north Bengaluru green and placed the life-sized fiber crocodile in it to make it look like a pond.
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Nanjundaswamy then posted pictures of the crocodile on the road on social media and tagged the BBMP and the Bengaluru traffic police.
{{/usCountry}}Nanjundaswamy then posted pictures of the crocodile on the road on social media and tagged the BBMP and the Bengaluru traffic police.
{{/usCountry}}According to the Indian Express report, it took Nanjundaswamy a week to make the crocodile which measures nine feet in length and weighs 18 to 20 kg and costed him Rs 6,000.
Nanjudaswamy's work, as well as his effort, were widely appreciated on social media.
"There are the screaming whistleblowers, protesters, activists on one lane and there is Baadal Nanjundaswamy on the other bringing change silently, differently and creatively!" posted Puneeth Ba on Nanjudaswamy's Facebook page.
"More crocodile ponds will come in #Bangalore if this state of road continues," warned @Amynove on Twitter.
Residents say it is not just the Sulthanpalya road that needs a repair, there are other areas in the city which too need the authorities' attention.
"The roads are filled with potholes... Avenue road, Majestic, HSR layout (service road), Ejipur, Mosque road, I can go on," said Vibha Vasuki, a resident of HSR layout.
Sahil Sardana, another resident of HSR layout, said he has complained to the traffic police a number of times but to no avail.
"I even said that many cars fell into the ditch. But nothing has been done about it until now."
Malleswaram's Ramesh Mandayam Chatrapathy said before imposing new rules, the authorities should take a look at the roads.
"I read in a paper that helmets are compulsory for pillion riders, it is totally ridiculous because they have not addressed the main problem for accidents - potholes - and they want to impose rules on civilians."
A glance through Nanjundaswamy's Facebook timeline tells us that this is not his first attempt in using artwork for civic activism. Last year, he drew a giant 'Yamaraj' around a pothole and it was closed within a day.
Some of his other attempts can be seen here.
Photo credits: Baadal Nanjundaswamy's Facebook page
(With inputs from Nihal Thondepu)