Bengaluru: Over two weeks have passed since Tender Sure roads were inaugurated and opened to the public. Management and enforcement has been a major challenge for the authorities as buses are not stopping at bus bays, two-wheelers are seen parked on the sidewalk of the school gates and most cyclists find it comfortable to ride on the pavement.
However, it has definitely encouraged people to walk on footpaths and pedestrians now seem to be a happy lot. When Deccan Chronicle visited Tender Sure roads, we saw a few vehicles parked on footpaths.
Srinidhi from an advocacy group Praja RAAG pointed out, “Some control is required. There is no separate fine for parking on the footpath. It is the usual '100 to 200 which is applied for no-parking violations. The authorities should come up with a strict rule and the fine amount should be more so that it can serve as a deterrent.”
Pointing a different issue Ravi Kumar,a commuter says, “Buses are not stopping at the bus bays and BMTC should take up these issues seriously now. After all, a lot of money has been spent in building Tender Sure roads.” Not many find the cycle tracks useful. DC asked a cyclist Panshil Singh and he said, “There are a lot of obstacles on the pavement, for example, there was a garbage cart opposite Bowing Club and in some areas the BBMP is still fixing a few things.” Srinidhi says, “Claiming to be cycle-friendly design is one thing and implementing it correctly in a usable way is something else.”
As for the traffic, there seems to be no change. K Pasha, a commuter at St Marks Road says, “We have not experienced any improvement in the traffic condition even after the tender sure work has been completed. The office hours continue to remain chaotic. I take the same time to travel from my house to my office.
A traffic constable at St Marks Road says, “The movement of big vehicles is still a problem on this road. And especially off-loading of passengers from buses or vehicles during school hours is still an issue.”
