As Bengaluru gets more unrecognizable by the day with newer flyovers, underpasses and Metro lines changing its landscape, motorists and pedestrians are left to cope with the resulting mess as the civic agencies involved don’t seem to know what the other is doing. When will the city see more orderly development coordinated by an umbrella agency that has been on the cards for years? DC reports.
There’s no arguing that Bengaluru is a vibrant city, but it is also quite literally a “city on the move,” as projects are constantly being built across it, leaving it in shambles in some parts while the authorities take their own time to complete them with total disregard for the convenience of motorists and pedestrians. As city roads are re-laid, flyovers are built, and new Metro Rail lines take shape, there is very little respite for Bengalureans out in the city.
The traffic police too find it nightmarish as, frustrated over long delays at traffic lights owing to the ongoing civic projects, motorists often flout rules leading to minor accidents.
Says a senior traffic police officer, “The traffic police is doing its best to ensure that the motorists face the minimum inconvenience on the roads due to the ongoing projects. But despite installing signages for diversions and erecting barriers, two-wheeler riders risk both their own and other’s lives by ignoring them. What can we do if motorists have no respect for traffic rules!”
Going by additional commissioner of police (traffic), P Harishekran, the BBMP is carrying out white-topping of roads , building flyovers and so on at 13 spots across the city and the BWSSB is laying pipelines, carrying out work on rajkulves and sewage and water lines in 10 or 15 others currently.
After a meeting with the chief secretary, the traffic police has extended its full support to the civic authorities to carry out the work. “But Bengalureans will have to put up with the resulting traffic hold-ups for another two months. Once the white-topping work is completed, the situation will become a lot better. I have formed a special force to take care of the traffic diversions , keep an eye on the core junctions and help the authorities expedite the construction work,” he adds.
In the meanwhile , the dug up city has left motorists and pedestrians not only greatly inconvenienced, but also at risk in the absence of sign boards or safety measures at many of the construction sites.
While work on projects like the elevated corridor on Intermediate Ring Road, and pipe laying work at Machideva Road near Lower Agaram Road hobbles along, commuters have a hard time getting to their destinations in these parts.
“Earlier, it was easy to reach my office on Sarjapur Main Road. But now the thought of commuting to it gives me the jitters due to the bad management of traffic, haphazard dumping of construction material and parked vehicles eating up road space,” complains Ms Shilpi, a software professional.
The ongoing construction work on several prime roads of the city has left pedestrians too endlessly battling bulldozers, open drains and ditches, and protruding metal rods. Says an activist, “It should have occurred to the BBMP, BESCOM, BWSSB, the planners and executioners of mega projects like the elevated corridor on Intermediate Ring Road that Sony World and Eijipura Junctions are major thoroughfares for lakhs of residents, techies and students .”
“Pedestrians are the outcasts as no one gives them a second thought,” laments Mr Tarakrishna Swamy, a member of #CitizensforBengaluru.
“Neither the government nor the traffic police seem to care about the lives of pedestrians. Every walk on the street is a life threatening experience with sparking transformers occupying entire pavements, iron rods protruding out into them , gaping holes on footpaths and construction debris everywhere. When their basic safety is not ensured, how can a government build trust with the citizens?” he demands pertinently.
