Bengaluru: Rajath has skidded several times on the muddy, slushy and muck-filled road below the Nagasandra Metro station.
“On Monday too, I was walking briskly as I was late to work on Monday, and I almost slipped again. I stopped, decided to take a video while walking the 400 metres stretch to the Metro station. The government makes us feel that if one walks, he dies," said Rajath, a techie who works on MG Road.
His video sent to the Namma Bengaluru Foundation serves as a testimony to the authorities' unwillingness to improve mobility. One can recall the death of a college-going girl this April, while trying to cross the Tumakuru highway road after getting off Nagasandra Metro station.
Rahul, a member of the foundation, said, “Abysmal public transport infrastructure is threatening the life of Bengalureans. BMTC buses stop nearly 400 metres away from the Metro station and there is no proper pathway connecting the bus stop to the station. "
As Rajath walks along the side of the Nagasandra Highway road in the video, there is two-way heavy movement of vehicles on one side, and construction debris, garbage, potholes, and ditches on the other.
“I was scared while taking the video. There was a bike behind me and a truck coming upfront. You can hear people screaming in fear for a second, when the truck hit the ditch and was trying to get out," Rajath explained, adding that the Metro corridor along the Tumakuru National Highway is extremely dangerous during rainy season.
Three underpasses at Peenya, Dasarahalli and Nagasandra Metro stations were supposed to be built by BMRCL, but never took off. The JP Nagar Metro Station on the South corridor has its station entrance on the high traffic Outer Ring Road. There are no bus bays, auto bays, space for private vehicles to drop Metro passengers at the gate, putting the lives of Metro commuters in danger.
Mr Srinidhi Sampath, a member of Praaja RAAG, has previously called out improper footpaths all around the Mysore Road Metro station.
“Pedestrians also need crossovers, like subways or skywalks. For such elevated stations, the viaducts are in the middle of the road and vehicles are speeding in both directions. How can a commuter walk safely," Srinidhi asked, adding that Trinity station had the same problem.
