South Bengaluru hit by white-topping spree

Major roads in South Bengaluru are witnessing massive traffic jams with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) white-topping key stretches of roads without providing alternative routes.

Even as work on the project on the busy Kanakapura Road in Jayanagar and parts of Basavanagudi has made life miserable for motorists, the BBMP has taken up white-topping of the five-kilometre stretch from Lalbagh West Gate to Banashankari TTMC along the key RV Road-Jayanagar 4th Main section. After the traffic police gave permission to the BBMP for white-topping of RV Road, the BBMP has advised commuters to use alternative routes to avoid traffic snarls.

But motorists say no proper alternative roads exist. “Even if we use alternative roads through residential areas, we get stuck at another unfinished part of a white-topping project,” said Pramod Kumar, a motorist from Banashankari.

The incomplete white-topping work on Kanakapura Road near Yediyur has become a threat to motorists and pedestrians. Resident say the road exceeds the footpath’s level.

Traffic jams have worsened, walking on footpaths has become impossible, and motorists, especially two-wheeler riders, risk life and limb if they use these stretches. People living along the white-topped roads face inconvenience every day.

“The work is moving at a snail’s pace. The concrete road is almost a foot higher than the existing road making it impossible for us to ride on this stretch,” said Prabhakar, a resident of Jayanagar 7th Block.

Meanwhile, the BBMP claims the project is progresing smoothly and work will be completed soon. “White-topped roads last 20 to 30 years and do not require any major maintenance. We are working day and night to complete the project. We will level the space between the footpath and the road to prevent accidents,” said a BBMP official.