No (cobble) stones unturned in 100 days of ineptitude

Built at the cost of Rs 10 crore and touted as a first-of-its-kind project in the country, Church Street is most certainly breaking records, if only for a catalogue of dubious reasons. Cobblestones are coming loose, a mere three months after the 'road which would never need repair' was thrown open. Arguments have already raged over the alleged privatisation of the street's up-keep, exacerbated by the cobblestones inability to withstand a single season of rain. The BBMP blaming ‘miscreants’ for the damage just doesn’t hold sway either, reports Aknisree Karthik 

Remodelled  with hand-laid granite cobblestones, Church Street, was touted to be one if its kind, presenting Bengaluru a walker’s paradise and people a choice to dine at its many restaurants in some peace and quiet with little traffic making its way to it.  But the street, which the BBMP and its contractors boasted would last decades, has not been able to withstand one rainy season.

The cobblestones have started to come apart as the BBMP struggles with the street’s upkeep. Although it  immediately plunged into action to fix the damage, civic activists, who have been against budget- heavy projects , are slamming it for "going against the will of  the people" and investing in such a costly makeover for the street.

Says Mr Kshithij Urs of the Forum for Urban Governance and Commons, "The people of Bengaluru never asked for this multi-crore project. Projects like TenderSURE and remodelling of Church Street have been taken up without their consent. They are  being thrust  upon them most undemocratically. And now despite all the money spent , Church Street has  not been able to survive even one rainy season.”

As for the partially polished cobblestones of about four to five inches thickness  used to lay the street, he says he  is not surprised they are coming loose as unlike the asphalt laid on normal roads, they don’t find traction on a concrete base. “Failing to find traction, they have started to come out one after the other,” he adds.

Describing  the  project as a “square peg in a round hole,” Mr Urs feels the fight against such civic plans should be intensified. "These  projects are not discussed enough. They should pass through the ward committees where the local residents should have a say in them. But instead, these projects are approved at a higher level , which spells the death of democracy," the activist regrets .

But shrugging off all criticism, Mayor Sampath Raj blames miscreants for the damage caused to the street.  "We suspect it to be the handiwork of some miscreants and have sought a report from the officials on the status of the road," he said, when contacted. 

Vehicle ban gets green signal from activists

The BBMP is in somewhat of a dilemma with citizen activists batting for a complete ban of vehicles on Church Street to make it pedestrian- friendly and restaurants and shops on it demanding that vehicles be allowed in the interest of their business.

Ms Tara Krishnaswamy, co-founder of Citizens for Bengaluru says if the BBMP cannot entirely ban vehicles on the street, it should at least restrict the entry of vehicles on particular days or for some hours.  In her view  much of the Central Business District needs to be more pedestrian and cycle- friendly.

Deploring the quality of work done on Church Street, she adds, "This only proves what people already know, that the quality of civic work by the BBMP, contracted or not, customised or routine, leaves much to be desired.  Whether it is an ordinary road or drain even, the quality issue cannot be wished away.  This is where citizen ownership is important.  The BBMP should hold a public consultation with all stakeholders on large and unusual projects. What we need is stewardship and overseeing of road construction and local project work by ward committees. This is the way forward."

But Mr Irfan Noor, secretary, Church Street Occupants' Association, strongly opposes the idea of a traffic ban on the street. Pointing out that nearly 150 business units, including restaurants and hotels,  are located all along it from the Brigade Road end to the St Mark's Road, he says it will be  disastrous for them if  only pedestrians are allowed on it.

“When the road was taken up for remodelling traders in the area were assured that no such vehicle restriction would be enforced. In fact, the new design provides parking space for 30 cars and over 100 two- wheelers . But  parking was later banned on the stretch and many traders are now complaining of loss of  business,” he adds, warning that the business establishments will not allow a complete traffic ban on Church Street come what may.