Bengaluru: For residents at 1st main Road in Seshadripuram, a predominantly commercial area, using the footpath is a nightmare. They have to contend with broken slabs, random pipes jutting out of the ground, construction debris and heaps of mud. Since the foothpath is nearly on the same level as the road, many shopkeepers park heavy vehicles, thereby forcing pedestrians to the busy road and risk their lives.
The busy 1st main Road in Seshadripuram is a commercial area and provides easy connectivity between Kumara Park West and Sheshadri Road. While vehicles zip past seamlessly, but for nearby residents, who use the footpath, it is an obstacle course.
They have to contend with broken slabs, random pipes jutting out from the ground, construction debris, patches of mud and heavy vehicles parked in front of shops.
“The footpath along 1st main Road, has been completely uneven and discontinuous for the past two years. It is broken, has shaky slabs in some areas which might easily give away and make one fall through. Construction debris is dumped onto the already wrecked footpath. To add to the mess, vehicles belonging to each shop in this area are parked here,” said Swethadri, a senior citizen residing in the area.
Pointing to the footpath on the Link Road, 1st Main junction, he said, “Around four months ago I was walking here. I had to get off the broken pavement to walk on the road, which has two-way traffic and is dangerous. While I was doing this, I slipped and fell flat on the road, hurting my arms and legs. Old people like me will invariably be hurt by incoming vehicles, one of these days.”
Another resident Chitra Venkatesh said, “This is a commercial area, so all the shop owners park their vehicles here throughout the day. There are a lot of projections and it is not a smooth footpath. It is filled in parts with slabs, stones and mud. Senior citizens walking in this direction to the temple and children going to school on the main road, are at risk.” The residents claim that they have been bringing up the issue to the local Corporator R.J. Latha Kuwar Rathod and MLA Dinesh Gundurao, though both promised to look into the matter but no action has been taken so far. With neither the pavement nor the busy road usable, residents, especially senior citizens, find it extremely difficult to move around as they risk losing their limbs and lives.
‘Will have to wait till BWSSB finishes work’
DC spoke to Corporator, R.J. Latha Kuwar Rathod
Why is the footpath broken and uneven on the 1st Main Road, Sheshadripuram?
For the past six months the BWSSB has been laying pipes for the new water line in some stretches of the footpath and the work is not yet over. Hence we cannot repair footpath at this juncture. We will begin the work once the BWSSB finishes laying pipes.
What about the remaining area where the footpath is still broken?
I have already begun a part of the repair work on the 1st main road footpath, near Link Road. However, due to heavy traffic we are unable to carry out repairs during peak hours, hence we work mostly during night. It also gets stopped due to rains.
Residents claim they have been complaining for the past two years. What is it taking so long?
I became a corporator only 11 months ago. Once we had laid part of the footpath and they BWSSB dug it up to lay their pipes. This becomes double work for us. So we would rather wait until they are done with their work and then begin fixing it.
What can be done now and how long will it take?
The stretch where the work is currently going on will get over soon. However for the remaining part, we will have to wait for the BWSSB to finish their work. It should take around two months.
