Potholes make up the roads here
Today, Basavanagudi, with horrible roads has a different tale to tell. Dr D V Gundappa Road, the heart of the area, is lined with electric serial sets and bright posters on every electric pole declaring the plethora of events planned for the Dasara festival.
However, the road itself is another matter. Reeling under the effects of the ill-conceived Tagore Circle underpass, the DVG Road and all the roads leading to it are in a mess as they face heavy vehicular movement and poor maintenance.
None of the potholes have been filled and the rain only makes the matters worse. While parking has been cancelled on one side of the road to accommodate more vehicles, the smooth flow of traffic is impossible, considering the number of potholes and cutting of the road. The stretch from Netkallappa Circle to Gandhi Bazaar Circle is the best example of this, despite repair work undertaken only a few months ago.
The road stretch on Subbaram Chetty Road, from NR Colony to Netkallappa Circle and Krishna Rao Park, is a nightmare for motorists. Previously, it was only the ‘Basava’ (cattle) in this area that motorists had to tackle. Now, with potholes and stagnant rain water, motorists literally have to criss cross to commute.
Past Gandhi Bazaar Circle, sand and stones from the pavements litter the road with pedestrians taking every step cautiously.
Almost every new building coming up on this road has construction materials strewn all over the pavement and road hindering the movement of both pedestrians and motorists.
“It has become worse with rain. Once it starts pouring, the construction materials come on to the road,” complained Suchitra, a homemaker from NR Colony.
The Gandhi Bazaar Circle itself is in a mess. With a sea of sellers around the Circle, the garbage piles up steadily even though it is cleared once a day.
Interestingly, a BBMP worker was found filling potholes with the mud and stones that had accumulated on the sidewalk. When questioned, the worker who smiled sheepishly said, “ I should not be doing it this way, but..”
“This is how they are filling up the potholes. This being the case, how do you expect the roads to be?” said a nearby fruit seller.
Basavanagudi Corporator B S Sathyanarayana said that he and the Chickpet corporator had floated tenders together for asphalting of the roads, especially Subbaram Chetty Road, DVG Road and Bull Temple Road.
“The tender process is complete, but there is no point doing anything till October, as rains will damage any work that is done,” he said.
South in a mess?
The rain have once again exposed the poor conditions of many roads in Bangalore south.
The Metro construction has only added to the woes of the motorists as none of the roads, where the pillars are being constructed are asphalted. Uneven stretches, potholes, overflowing drains have become a common feature on most of the roads. The RV Road stretch next to the Metro pillars is in a bad condition and is unevenly asphalted.
The Lalbagh Mission Road is in a deplorable state with water logging worsening the situation further. Surprisingly, desilting of drains has been taken up in some areas of south Bangalore. Residents worry that most of the work will be abandoned or will not be completed on time. Almost every arterial road in south Bangalore is today bearing the brunt of poor maintenance and poor quality work. All it takes is one good rain to wash away every bit of tar leaving behind just gravel and stones.
Funds for maintenance
* Development of major roads in Basavanagudi ward:
Rs 1.5 crore
* Asphalting work on Dr DVG Road, Basavanagudi
and Sunkenhalli Main Road: Rs 80 lakh.
* Development work in Chickpet Assembly
Constituency: Rs 8 crore
* Development work in Basavanagudi
Assembly Constituency: Rs 5 crore
* Development work in Chickpet ward: Rs 2 crore
* Asphalting work on Bull Temple Road from Narasimharaja Colony to Chamrajpet I Main Road and Rangarao Road (cross roads) and Gandhi Bazaar Main Road: Rs 3 crore
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