A stinking, uncleared, open drain runs
adjacent to the Rao Bahadur B P Annaswamy Mudaliars’ High School at Moore road in Fraser Town. It is taking a toll on the health of the students here. Ironically, the corporation health office is just the next building.
Residents here are in an irate frame of mind. Mythili, a marketing executive at Country Club, says, “When it rains, the drain fills up and water overflows and enters houses around.” The health office exists only for namesake, charges homemaker Hemavathi. There is no garbage cleaning at all.  If we complain about uncleared garbage, someone will come after two days and clear it. After that, uncleared garbage continues.”

Assistant mistress Kavitha is sore over a different issue — the numerous rock-sized stones, intended for development work around the drain and now scattered in front of the school. “I remember a time when the stones were all arranged in front of the entrance gate and we could not open the gate to allow the students inside. The students had to physically remove the big stones and then come to school,” she says.   

No space
A little further down the Moore road the entire footpath along the corner is occupied by huge mounds of jelly stones. This forces countless children who take this route to school to walk on the streets exposing themselves to risk. 

The lengthy Robertson road has its share of woes.  Irresponsible behaviour on the part of the public negates the advantage of having a broad road and spacious footpaths on either side. A disturbing feature is cars parked in front of homes or offices blocking the entire footpath. Many two-wheelers too are parked here. 

The point where this road intersects with Haines road is a picture of confusion. On either side of  Robertson road are two big tea shops that attract huge crowds. Two-wheelers and four-wheelers of customers are casually parked on the main road in front of the shops. Compounding the problem are autorickshaws who occupy a considerable length of the other side of the road. Majid Khan, business associate at Target India and a Fraser Town resident for over two decades, says, “Robertson road was mainly a residential area but the last four years has seen it transform into a commercial place. It is very crowded at nights.” Medical shop employee Shoaib is irritated about macho youth wheeling on their bikes during morning and afternoon hours to impress the girls studying at the Corporation Pre-University College here and the resulting accidents. He insists a cop be posted there. 

Speedbreakers
A speedbreaker located at Mosque road has caused many accidents as it is in the shape of an acute angle instead of the slight hump that it is supposed to have. A tailor whose shop is located across it, says, “I have seen so many of my women customers tumble down from their vehicles after ramming onto it. It is also not visible during nights.”

By contrast, the non-presence of a hump at Moore road rankles James, who works at the Registrar of Co-operative Societies. “Two accidents have taken place just within a week by motorcyclists speeding here. One banged into a car and suffered head injuries while another had fractures on his leg.  If a speedbreaker is constructed on the road, this kind of fast riding will not take place here.

It is another story on Wheeler road. “We desperately need a traffic signal or a cop on the road to regulate the vehicles here,” says Vandana.  “If you try crossing alone, there is no chance you can cross over quickly. There have been times I have spent upto 30 minutes to cross to the other side,” she added.

While many areas in the City have developed at a rapid pace, we feel largely neglected, laments a resident. Are there better days in store for residents of Fraser Town?