Kanpur Mahanagar Congress workers on Monday staged a symbolic protest against pothole-ridden roads by sitting inside potholes with tyres around their necks near KESA House at Shastri Chowk in Barra-2.
Gupta said the condition of the roads reflected neglect rather than development. Senior Congress leader Alok Mishra said wearing tyres around their necks was intended to symbolically highlight the “horrific” condition of the city’s roads. The protesters said that when roads had become a threat to public safety, the government should answer questions related to the safety of commuters and provision of basic civic facilities instead of making claims about development.
Led by district president Pawan Gupta, the protesters raised slogans and took out a padayatra to draw the attention of the government and district administration to the poor condition of roads across the city. During the protest, they also offered flowers at potholes and sang Ramdhun. He alleged that large potholes were damaging vehicles, causing tyre bursts and resulting in injuries to commuters in accidents, making travel increasingly risky.