Uneven roads, dust force residents of Cambridge Layout to stay indoors

It has been two months since residents of Cambridge Layout have been parking their vehicles far away from their homes, walking on uneven footpaths and braving dust to reach home. 

With the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) having dug the First Main Road and Cambridge Road for repair work, the residents’ ordeals never seem to end. 

Sashikala Dominic, boutique owner and a resident of the area for over 40 years, said: “We cannot open the doors of our houses because of dust entering our homes. There is constant noise due to ongoing work, but there is no progress. As an entrepreneur, I have lost much business over the last month as roads to my shop are blocked from all sides.”

Most residents have complained to the BWSSB as well as the BBMP, but to no avail. A few days ago, another load of gravels and sand was unloaded in the middle of the already-dug road. The heap continues to remain there since.

School affected

Students and parents of a school on Cambridge Road are facing trouble since there is no place for them to walk. Many times, motorists are also forced to drive/ride on footpaths. 

“Gravel has been spread on the asphalted road. The situation has worsened with motorists now driving on the uneven stretch,” said Sethuraman, another resident. 

He said senior citizens and children were bearing the brunt of the work going on at a snail’s pace. BWSSB officials, however, said the work on restoring the road was in progress and it would be completed shortly. 

“The entire stretch is about one kilometer in long. We have laid the sewer lines for about 600 metres. Another 400 metres of work is left. After laying the pipelines, it is the Palike’s responsibility to restore the roads and they have started the work,” an official said.