Viveknagar wallows in apathy
Poor facilities, narrow roads choking with garbage haunt residents
Traffic jams and accidents have become the bane of Viveknagar, courtesy pot-holed roads and ‘cosmetic’ repairs.
Residents allege that no repair lasts beyond three months. It is a common complaint that the contractors just dump loads of mud on the road in the name of repair.
The ‘repair’ further compounds the problem, turning the area slushy during rain. Clouds of dust emanating from the road only add to the problem. “You can witness at least two traffic jams in 15 minutes on this road,” said Kumaresan, a resident.
The road, frequented by buses and army trucks has an open manhole too. And ironically one of the first buildings on the road is a BBMP ward office. Two schools, a hospital, a post office and places of worship are located along this road.
The road was marked for widening about eight months ago and notices were issued to building owners, a shopkeeper said. However, the process stopped abruptly. The Palike constructed stormwater drains on either side of the road before taking up the proposed road widening.
The road also has mounds of uncleared garbage. The residents’ woes don’t end there.
The area is also batterred by irregular power and water supply.
“Five electricity poles collapsed in the area a few days ago. We had to pay for restoration of the supply,” a resident said. With the BBMP turning a Nelson’s eye to civic problems, Viveknagar residents only trust their stars for a safe living.
