The Infant Jesus Shrine located in Viveknagar is known for its ‘miraculous’ healing powers and attracts hundreds of visitors on a daily basis. But this area itself is in need of serious attention from the ward corporator and the BBMP.
Viveknagar presents a picture of total apathy and lack of civic sense as you can see mounds of uncleared garbage strewn all over the road. Roadside shops and hawkers have encroached upon many civic spaces.
Shops selling meat, fish, bakeries, eateries, fancy stores and shops selling candles and flowers have lined up an entire stretch of this road.
The road leading to the National Games Village is filled with potholes and is frequented by buses, army trucks and vehicles of church goers.
Of late, autos are not allowed to enter this road and the entry points are constantly manned by at least two police personnel regularly.
Still traffic jams are a common sight here, especially on Thursdays since the church attracts more visitors on this day.
Presently, the situation is worse with roads dug up on one side for road widening work with hardly any barricades, thereby, increasing the risk for pedestrians and two-wheeler drivers.
Tsering, a student residing in Viveknagar, says, “The stench emanating from the piled-up garbage is unbearable. I have never seen any pourakarmika clearing the waste from here. Authorities are not bothered because this area is surrounded by a slum.”
Though located right next to Koramanagala, which is said to be the most sought after locality in Bangalore both for residential and business purposes, Vivekanagar has few takers.
And, the ones who choose to live in this locality, do so because of the cheap accommodation available here.
Janaradhan, who is a real estate agent says,“People who can’t afford to pay higher rents in Koramangala, choose Viveknagar. The roads here are in a pathetic condition and the narrow roads filled with garbage, haunts the residents. If the rent for a 1BHK in Koramangala is 10-12k per month, it will cost you not more than 4k in Viveknagar.”
The Agaram ward corporator Sarala was not available for any comments.