Bengaluru: The footpath along the Kasturba Road near Kanteerava stadium is in bad shape with broken and missing slabs. This not only poses hazard to the pedestrian, but even some athletes have sustained injuries by tripping on them. Unless the BBMP pulls up its socks, the problem is going to become worse once the monsoon sets in.
Unbelievably, the city administration has ignored a crucial stretch of footpath used by hundreds of sportsmen and athletes, who make our state and country proud. This stretch of footpath along the Kasturba Road near Kanteerava stadium is set apart from the general public on the busy road, said Gowtham, a physiotherapist.
Fitness is a must for sportsmen or athletes. No amount of preparedness will help if an athlete trips and injures himself. An injury leading to tissue damage or a fractured bone ahead of competition can prove very costly. Due to the badly maintained footpath, courtesy BBMP, many athletes have suffered injuries and stayed away from the competition.
Even pedestrians who use the footpath are equally vulnerable. They often trip on the broken slabs and sometimes even fracture their limbs. With the monsoon setting in, the danger posed by broken slabs is bound to increase, leading to more cases of injuries. The BBMP must conduct a recce of the city’s drains and desilt them. After desilting, the BBMP must make sure that they replace the broken slabs, Goutham said.
In the past there have even been cases of children and senior citizens getting washed away in the drains during the monsoon. Two years ago a nine-year-old-girl, Geeta Lakshmi, was washed away at Bilekahalli off Bannerghatta road.
That tragedy is still fresh in the minds of people. Following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by a Rajya Sabha member, the High court has cracked the whip on the BBMP. But the BBMP seems to be in deep slumber, he added.
Although activists have been bringing the poor condition of footpaths to the notice of city authorities, they have been acting slowly. Recently, concrete blocks were stacked on a footpath near Queens’ road and Cunningham road junction, obstructing the free movement of pedestrians.
A city based artist had even painted the concrete blocks on a footpath with golden colour to highlight the dangers faced by pedestrians while using them, and they should be fixed at the earliest, Goutham said.
‘Footpaths will be fixed shortly’
DC talks to Sampangiramangar ward corporator R. Vasanth Kumar
Excerpts
Footpaths on Kasturba Road are in bad shape and the drains overflow during monsoon. How do you plan to deal with it?
The bad stretch of footpaths on Kasturba road, which are used by pedestrians and athletes, will be fixed shortly. I have held a meeting with engineers and the work will begin from Wednesday.
When will the dangerous footpaths be fixed to prevent injury to pedestrians?
The ward engineers have been asked to identify the poor and dangerous footpaths. Details will be sought from the ward citizens too over the neglected footpath and they will be fixed soon.
With the monsoon round the corner, have you desilted drains across Sampangiramnagar ward?
Work on desilting of drains has not started. Contractors are not coming forward to take up work as the payment is being delayed by the BBMP for the work done. However, the issue is being raised with the mayor and council to get the drains desilted to ensure smooth flow of storm water.
