BBMP bothers only when polls are around
There have been several accidents on the damaged Hennur Road underpass on Outer Ring Road, causing concern to riders of two-wheelers.
Srinivas, a real estate contractor, informed The Observer: “Often, I have found it difficult to travel on this road.” The road urgently needs maintenance; otherwise, there will be no end to accidents taking place, he added.
Raju Madaya, an insurer, said: “On busy days, it is difficult to drive in the area. The road is in a terrible condition. The BBMP needs to understand that the road requires urgent repair…. I wish to take another route to reach K.R. Puram, but since this is the only route, I have no other option.”
Aditya Kumar, an autorickshaw driver, said: “I have travelled this way several times. When senior citizens come along, they find it difficult to sit inside any vehicle… they get severe backaches. What is the point of having civic bodies and corporators if they cannot do their work efficiently? The road has also seen frequent accidents. If the BBMP wishes to do something for the welfare of the people, they need to first work on the basics — that is, repair the road going to K.R. Puram so that vehicle owners like us will be eased of tension. Traffic here is observed to be not regulated.”
Citizens like Cariappa Mallikarjun, a sugarcane stall owner, have been around the area for five years. “The flyover underpass here has seen several accidents, but not one authority has looked into the situation,” he said.
Officials care only when BBMP elections are around the corner.
“I have observed motorcyclists and car drivers passing through this underpass expressing fear. Hoping the authorities work on this in a swift manner,” Mallikarjun added.
Rajan Antony, who lives in the Hennur Road area, said: “People here have complained to BBMP authorities several times as frequent accidents have taken place on this road.”
Hanouk H, a central government employee, said: “I have travelled through the Hennur Road flyover underpass several times by bus and rickshaw, and observed that there is no change. The traffic police here may say that people should drive carefully, but that can only happen if roads are maintained properly.”
Hucheer Naik, a traffic constable, said: “We are trying to reach out to people’s needs, but all people need to do is cooperate. The road at the Hennur Road flyover underpass has been damaged due to Metro work because of which no motorcycle or car can drive smoothly. Because people try to overspeed, it is obvious that accidents happen.”
The BBMP directed The Observer to contact BMRCL officials.
BMRCL executive engineer Mahesh C.B. said: “The service roads are duly maintained and issues are resolved. However, since the Metro work in the underpass area cannot be stopped, we shall try to resolve citizens’ issues as soon as possible.”
Email : janani.s@iijnm.org
