Bengaluru: The footpath on the busy Gangadhar Chetty Road in Ulsoor serves myriad purposes, except for what they were originally meant for!
The hapless pedestrian has been elbowed out. He has to often step on to the road and risk his life and limb amid vehicles zipping past.
Many of the slabs are broken and in many places people park their vehicles. As the road is located close to the city's shopping hub, Commercial Street, many shoppers in search of parking space end up at Gangadhar Chetty Road, park their vehicle and disappear for hours.
The major drawback of this footpath is that it is on the same level as the road and hence very easy for the motorists to park their vehicles.
Garbage dumped on the footpath
"The footpath has been in a pathetic condition for two years now. We have to walk on the road, where vehicles are speeding with no care for our lives. I have a 75-year-old mother, who just cannot use that road and have to take a longer detour through an alternative inside road," said Bispe, a local resident. He added that they do not step out after 6 pm.
"Shoppers park their heavy four-wheelers right on the footpath and quite often the slabs either develop cracks or break," Bispe said.
"Those who are young are always on the alert while walking on these shaky footpath slabs," said Manisha, a Maths tutor and resident of 30 years. "It is more risky for the senior citizens like my maid. Every other day, she invariably trips and hurts herself on the footpath. When she uses the road, she often gets hit by side views mirrors of vehicles or handles of two-wheelers."
The footpath also functions as a mini garbage dumping area. Manisha alleged that the garbage they segregate gets dumped in a mixed form on the footpath. When the garbage truck does not arrive on a Sunday, the pile attracts cows and mosquitoes.
Gopal, a mechanic, said the road is also a nightmare for cyclists. "The road is too busy for those cycling, who use the pavement and find their tyre punctured due to sharp edges."
Residents complained that in some stretches footpaths were removed for desiliting drains, but were placed back in a haphazard manner and they get damaged by parked cars. This cycle continues every year, they added.
Footpath work will start in two months: Corporator
Interview with Mamatha Saravana, Corporator, Ulsoor, Ward 90
Why is the footpath of Gangadhar Chetty Road in a dangerous condition?
There is no proper footpath. These are 15-year-old footpath slabs, which are broken. We are developing it only now, but first we are working on finishing construction of the wall, adjoining the footpath. It will take some time.
Residents say every time the slabs are replaced, it is done in a haphazard way...
That is not true. This is misinformation. We have never actually replaced the slabs. Only prior to the monsoon season, we remove the slabs and desilt the drains. We place it back as is. These slabs have not been replaced for a long time.
Garbage is dumped, parked cars break the footpath. Why?
The residents themselves dump the garbage. We have not said anything to them because the footpath itself is not properly developed. Cars are parked there illegally. We plan to raise the height of the footpath, so they cannot drive over.
What is the next step and how long will it take?
The work will start in 2 months. We will place new slabs, in a different way that is at a raised height. It can however, only begin after the wall on the side is done.
