KG ROAD: The footpath on the Kempegowda Road stretch near Cauvery Bhavan has vanished. Reason: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has dumped cement pipes on it blocking pedestrians' way.
While the Karnataka High Court has asked the BBMP to clear footpaths of encroachments, the civic body is using the footpath as a dumping ground forcing pedestrians to walk on the road risking their lives. So watch your step while walking on this ever-busy road. You have to bear with this for atleast two more months.
KG Road is one of the roads chosen for upgradation under the TenderSURE (specification for urban road execution) project.
This road is a disaster waiting to happen. Murthy, who frequently takes this route said, “As the footpath is blocked, we have no option but to walk by the side of the road endangering our lives.”
He said no one would take responsibility if there was an accident on this stretch. He asked if the authorities were waiting for an accident to happen before clearing the footpath.
Priya, a student from Vijaya College, said that one has to be extra cautious and be patient while walking on such busy roads. “Even if we have to rush somewhere, we have no choice but to wait for the traffic to clear before walking by the side of the road. We can't risk our lives, can we?” she asked.
Another youngster, Yashaswini from PES College, said this was a dangerous stretch. “It is nerve-wracking to walk on this road with our aged grandparents or little siblings. I hope the work is completed soon and the footpath is no longer treated as a store room by the authorities.”
Agreed senior citizens Ajith and Sumar Kulkarni. They said walking on this road which sees heavy traffic is a risky proposition for senior citizens.
Not our job: BWSSB
Kemparamaiah, chief engineer, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), said work is being carried out and supervised by the BBMP authorities under the TenderSURE project. “Our department is neither related to nor accountable on this matter,” he said.
BBMP Superintending Engineer (major roads) K T Nagaraj said, “We will lay the pipes after earth work is completed. It will take some time. If everything goes well, it will be done in another two months. Till then people have to bear with the inconvenience. We do not have space to dump the pipes,” he added.
The High Court in July 2014 had given the BBMP three months to clear all the footpaths of encroachments. It had also directed the civic body to put footpaths in places where there were none in six months. The time given for both has expired.