Bengaluru: No sweet ride on Chocolate Factory Road

Bengaluru: Over the years Chocolate Factory road in BTM Layout has turned into a civic nightmare due to mushrooming of paying guest accommodation, studio apartments and eateries. This has also led to rampant increase in illegal dumping of garbage and incidents of hooliganism.

"The black spots are increasing on a daily basis. Fortunately, the BBMP has implemented the ban on flex boards. Otherwise right from Thaverekere to S.G. Palaya flex boards used to be put forcibly on the small shops and walls of residential premises. However, the issue of garbage continues to worry us," said Ravi, a shop owner in the locality.

He also said that not only the residents but even Palike took up measures to prevent illegal dumping, by installing pictures of gods and goddesses, but violators seldom care about it.

" When garbage is dumped on footpath and once it is cleared, the spot is covered with green cloth on all sides or replaced with the pictures of gods. However, that part of the footpath become unusable for pedestrians. I do not put the entire blame on BBMP, but also the shopkeepers who surreptitiously dump garbage at night," he added.

The residents and PG students have accused that on certain occasions entire road is barricaded by flat owners to celebrate birthday and other functions and they burst fire crackers. " A few days ago, we were disturbed when crackers were burst in the area throughout the day to celebrate someone’s birthday. Often we see fights on the street. There is a law and order issue in the area," said Rajiv Joshi (name changed), a local resident. As per the Air Quality Index (AQI) data released by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), BTM Layout figures in the top position. But still no precautionary measures have been taken.

At under-construction buildings, builders neither cover the area to prevent cement and dust from entering neighbouring areas, nor the construction materials are kept away from the road.