While, the former houses the salaried and more well-to-do people, the latter is a slum.
Jaya Shetty, a resident of the BDA Layout calls it the road with the ‘dirtiest history’. On the Sudhamanagar side, for the last six years, BBMP has not bothered to replace the slabs on the drains putting the lives of the residents at risk.
T Mallika, a Sudhamanagar resident, began constructing her house in 2006. The authorities promised to cover the drains, filled with filthy water and emitting stench, with slabs.
“I moved into the house in 2007 and lost my husband a few years ago. I also have to take care of my child. With contaminated drinking water and uncovered drain, it is a disgusting life here,” she says.
Her son Vishesh, a ninth standard student, said: “My father had fallen into the drain six times. Like him, many other people continue to fall into the drain.” Vishesh has given up all hopes on BBMP.
Repeated complaints from the residents of both areas have fallen on deaf ears.
According to M Peter, a resident of BDA Layout, the local MLA performed a ground breaking ceremony on May 9, this year for the slab laying work. “They performed pooja, clicked pictures and left the place. Till today, the work has not started,” said Peter.
Peter and Shetty plead the authorities to close the drains with slabs as early as possible, as the houses in BDA Layout get flooded during rains.
When contacted, BBMP Junior Assistant Engineer (Road) Venkatesh Nagesh told Deccan Herald that the work has already begun.
“The contractor has started work on Monday (August 29),” he said.
However, this reporter found no signs of the work. When contacted again, Nagesh said no work order had been received.
“The problem is, the contractors keep changing all the time,” he said and promised the work would be completed within a month.
Old Airport Road
The situation on Old Airport Road from ITPL to M G Road is no better. Near Total Mall, Leela Palace and ISRO compound, vehicles are seen meandering to avoid major potholes. “If such an important road cannot be maintained, you know how the rest of the City is,” remarked Vinay Kumar, a motorist from Murugeshpalya.
During rains, the situation gets worse as two-wheelers fall into these potholes.
Bike riders manage to avoid them, but turn dangerously close to pedestrians walking on roads due to lack of footpaths.
A walk from Domlur Bridge to Total Mall proves that this stretch is neither fit for walking nor travelling in a vehicle.
Pavements are almost non-existent on this stretch.
Rahul, who works in a bakery near Total Mall, says: “People come and go, but we have to work here. The place stinks with garbage, dirt and all kinds of trash. A proper pavement can eliminate most of the problem,” he added.
Anagha Ramaswamy, a resident of N R Layout, says: “If the workers do not cover the drain with slabs immediately, I fear people living alongside it will get malaria or some other disease.”
