Koramangala: Appearances are deceptive in this ‘posh’ locality

BENGALURU: Citizens of Bengaluru have a misconception about Koramangala – they consider it one of the posh localities and fastest-developing areas, one of the city landmarks and its most prominent district.

But the actual reality is quite different. Missing slabs on footpaths, uncleared garbage, indiscriminate road work, dirty public toilets … all this sums up the real condition of the ward. Repeated complaints to the corporator have only fallen on deaf ears. So says M. Umesh, who runs a fabrications store.

Of course the area is undeniably posh, but public representatives like the corporator and MLA ignore the problems dogging the area at Marappa Reddy layout in Adugodi ward. The other side of Koramangala has not been projected, but camouflaged instead with some posh-looking spots, said Umesh.

But the fast-developing Koramangala area has black spots, too. The roads have not seen ‘black topping’ for years. Every corner of most roads have been turned into dumpyards and mosquito breeding grounds. This has resulted in health hazards for citizens of the Marappa Reddy layout in Adugodi ward.

“The residents of Marappa Reddy layout have been left between the devil and the deep sea. We are not rich and don’t have the clout to get things done. The politicians are more interested in the slum areas around the place. These politicians don’t bother to even enter our area. After a lot of pestering, finally corporator S. M. Murugesh Modaliar visited our area when concrete laying work was going on,” said Mr. Umesh.

A bylane of Marappa Reddy layout has been designed in such a way that no four-wheelers can enter the road freely. The concrete road has proved more inconvenient than useful. The drains have been covered and even a small amount of rainfall is enough to flood the place, he said and added that in the last five years, the former corporator had visited only twice. How can we vote for these politicians, he wondered aloud.

Fact sheet

• Ward Adugodi
• Total voters 27727
• Male voters 14427
• Female voters 13299
• Others 1
• Polling staions 27
• Total area 1.6 sq. kms
• Former corporator S.M. Murugesh Mudaliar