A spot visit to the place will reveal that the shift from the jurisdiction of the CMC has clearly not had any change barring the name of the nomenclature of the civic agency governing the place.

The construction of the international airport at Devanahalli has resulted in mushrooming of huge residential complexes as well as multinational companies setting shop in the area and surroundings. It has merely resulted in the crumbling of the existing pathetic infrastructure.

This comes through the moment one heads to Kempapura. Atrocious roads are a common feature even in the heart of the City but the roads in this area particularly stand out.

One can start right from the beginning of the road leading to the area from Bellary road where the Esteem Mall is located. It is outrightly bumpy throughout. It takes one to the Kempapura main road. Despite the presence of many educational institutions, including the Presidency College and the Sindhi college on this road, the condition of the road has to be seen to be believed.

“It has been like this for years. Nothing changes here. Officials from the corporation come once in a while and take a look but the road has remained the same as long as I can remember,” laments Sanjay, owner of Bharat Stationery and Gifts. 

The road is dotted with small and large stones. It further leads to huge potholes which are filled to the brim due to the brief showers in the City this week. Parents were noticed riding on two-wheelers in slow motion to take their children safely home.

Pavement taken over

The Third cross offers another shocker. The entire pavement path is taken over by numerous bhelpuri sellers and stools for customers on one side. Vegetable sellers and jelly stones take over the path across it.

Vittal Rao, a retired principal who resides at Coffee Board layout says, “This is a BDA approved layout. The roads were tarred once four years ago but it has crumbled due to lack of maintenance. Buses (287 series) refused to enter for a fortnight here due to the state of the roads. Even now, many a time they stop at the entrance of the road and push off.”

The garbage collection work has been entrusted with the Spandana Stree Shakti group but despite the promise of daily clearance, it get cleared once in two to three days, he charges. The sprouting of weeds in open areas has resulted in mosquitoes and even snakes crawling around, Rao added.

Kempapura residents had even staged a major dharna two years ago to protest the appalling condition of the Kempapura road and the apathy of the authorities.

Water problem

Suresh, a retired municipal officer, is upset over the poor supply of water in his area, Vinayak layout and the surrounding Nethajinagar, Janata colony and the Anjaneya temple area. His companion, Narayan, is agitated over the Rs 15,000 each shelled out by him and others he and otherfamilies shelled out three years ago for Cauvery water. But they have not received a drop of water.

The residents of the area are unanimous that something has to be done deperately to improve the infrastructure here. Is the BBMP listening?