India, Aug. 30 -- Sir,

M.G. Road is one among the many arterial roads in Mysuru city that is battered and bruised far too often. There always seems to be some work underway on this stretch throughout the year, making one wonder whether the Public Works Department is on the job or if an archaeological excavation is in progress.

The worst comes once the so-called "work" is completed. After months of dragging on at a leisurely pace, the closure happens in a hurry - the workers vanish overnight, leaving behind a patchwork of sand and gravel. The road is then left to the manoeuvring skills of motorists to avoid accidents. For proper restoration with tar, the road must usually wait until next election.

A classic example is the stretch near t...