BTM layout: All ‘wired’ to trip you

Pedestrians tripping over optical fibre cables and uneven slabs that pose a risk to walkers who could fall into a drain. These are two of the major civic issues that residents of BTM Layout have to live with. Though municipal agencies have removed wire mesh from many areas, motorists face the risk of meeting with an accident as some still remain. Moreover, bikes are parked on the footpaths that leave very little room for people to walk

Bengaluru: The dangling optical fibre cables (OFC) have been posing a threat to the pedestrians and commuters. There have been several cases in BTM Layout and surrounding areas of pedestrians tripping over it. “In BTM and Koramangala, I have witnessed several incidents of pedestrians tripping over the mesh. In high traffic density areas like BTM Layout, there is a huge probability of two-wheelers riders meeting with an accident. The municipal agencies have removed the wire mesh from several areas, but some of them still remain,” said R. Prasad, a resident who resides in Tavarekere.

The other major issue which has been troubling the residents for a long time is uneven slabs. The slabs near S.G. Palya have become a nightmare for the pedestrians who allege that at any time they could cave into one of the drains.

“Either the ward has no money to carry out the maintenance works or it hoards money by ignoring the civic works. This is a long pending issue. During peak hour traffic. one can see bikes parked on footpaths, which affects the foundation. No penalty is imposed on such violators. Pedestrians are left with no choice. If a footpath is 100 metres long, one can find half of it is either encroached upon or has been turned into a public urinal,” said Rashmi, a college student in S.G. Palya. Not only Koramangala, where the manholes regularly overflows, even BTM Layout is exposed to Palike’s civic apathy.

“Yes, this is a serious issue. They use pumps to declog the drains, but this issue keeps repeating itself throughout the year. Entire ward in the BTM Layout has such issues. BBMP and BWSSB should join hands to put an end to the unhygienic mayhem,” said R. Yogi, a local resident. Despite the issue of garbage burning and dumping in several areas of BTM Layout there is hardly any change on the ground. The entire ward seems to be crying for attention.

Q&A with Mayor GAGAMBIKE

Are you aware about the issue of uneven footpath slabs in the ward?
I will get it checked and do the needful. There are civic maintenance works which will be carried out soon.

BTM residents complain of open garbage burning. What are you doing?
The problem is not restricted to a specific ward. We are trying our level best, but unless the citizens become serious about the issue, it is difficult to bring about a change.

In some of the lanes, the manholes are found to be overflowing. What is the corporation doing about this?
The silt in manholes needs to be removed regularly to stop them from overflowing. This is another issue concerning the residents across the city. BWSSB has been directed to keep a tap on the progress.