Residents and vendors facing difficulties
The construction of the Yellow line of Namma Metro has slowed down again in the past few days due to heavy rain and waterlogging.
Ravi S., who works as a welder on a contract basis for BMRCL, informed The Observer: “The construction had been going at a good pace for the past 4-5 months, but it has slowed down in the past few days due to rain.… I think here (near Bommanahalli), the construction work will take two more years to be completed.”
The construction of the Yellow line began in 2016. Earlier, the Metro elevated corridor had a 2022-end deadline. However, it seems unlikely that the work will be completed by the end of this year.
Because of the ongoing construction work along roads, residents and vendors in HSR Layout and Bommanahalli have been facing difficulties. The roads are littered with piles of cement, rubble and construction material. On some parts of the road, there is hardly any space for pedestrians to walk.
Santhosh, a fruit vendor, has a stall near Central Silk Board Junction in Bommanahalli. Because of the construction work and rain, he has been facing difficulty setting up his stall.
The traffic problem has increased due to the construction work and the roads being blocked, Santhosh added. “After rain, it is very hard for people to walk on this road.”
But the construction work hasn’t affected the vendors’ sales.
The work had only picked up pace in December 2021, after being halted during the pandemic, according to a report in The New Indian Express.
Residents of HSR Layout have also been affected by the construction of the Yellow line.
Sahil Choudhary, an employee of an IT company who lives in HSR Layout Sector 1, shared: “Around BTM Layout where the Metro construction is going on, it takes at least 30 minutes on a 15-minute route. The roads are very congested and everyone drives at a speed of 10 kmph.”
Traffic and congestion are not the only issues that people living near these areas are facing.
Another resident who lives near Bommanahalli said that due to the construction work, there has been a lot of dust and pollution in residential areas, bothering residents.
The construction of the Yellow line began under Phase-II of Namma Metro. The line will connect R.V. Road with Bommasandra and will be fully elevated with 16 stations.
