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This timekeeper sounds trouble

Nuisance Value
Last Updated 01 July 2013, 14:16 IST

The City has always had a strange liking for clock towers. To name a few, there are clock towers at the BBMP head office in NR Square, KR Market and Raj Bhavan. And now the South End Circle in Jayanagar has a 61-foot-long clock tower called Ambara Chumbana.

Apart from telling the time and striking every hour, the colour of the dial too changes everyday. For example, if it’s Thursday, the colour of the dial turns yellow.

Innovative indeed, but how useful is this tower for those who live in the area or commute through it?

It’s been close to five months since it was installed and the tower still manages to be a crowd-puller. However, residents have a mixed opinion on this.

Not only does the striking sound irritate those around but many believe that the structure is of no use.

Once known as a peaceful neighbourhood, the area has now turned into a massive dust bowl because of the debris left over by the tower construction and the ongoing Metro work.

Sriranjani, a professional, who commutes through the area everyday, says, “I feel the entire concept of a clock tower is good in theory. But we are already fighting for space on the roads and now, there is this structure out there. Instead of this, if the Metro work was done faster or at least the road widened, it would have been much appreciated.”

Many agree with Sriranjani. “Although the clock looks good and grand with the sound and colourful lights, I feel it’s a useless expenditure. Instead, they could have just made the area greener, given that the Metro structure has already spoilt the locality,” says Jaidev, a student.

Srinivasan, a resident of an apartment close to the area, says, “During the day, the clock striking is alright as one can hardly hear the sound with the noise of the traffic. But early in the morning and after nine in the night, the sound becomes a nuisance.”  
There is also a private hospital located very close by and the gong sound disturbs the patients during the night.

A resident doctor, who doesn’t want to be named, says, “It’s a sharp sound and at times, keeps the patients awake for a long time. In this time and age, when everyone has a wrist watch or a mobile phone, how useful can these clock towers be?”

Narayan, a resident of Jayanagar, says, “The booming sound is a nuisance. But now that it’s here to stay, we have no choice but to live with it. The authorities should have looked into these things before installing it. It disturbs the residents here and the patients in the hospital close-by. Apart from adding to the aesthetic beauty, the clock has really not contributed much to the neighbourhood.”

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(Published 01 July 2013, 14:16 IST)

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