Signature campaigns on pedestrian safety gain pace

Some concerned Bangaloreans are trying to make life easier for their fellow pedestrians and are appealing to authorities to take necessary action.

Every day thousands of commuters, including a number of techies working in and around the RMZ Ecospace Business Park on the Marathahalli- Sarjapur Outer Ring Road in Bellandur, literally stare at the possibility of death when they cross the road.

People who frequent the area have witnessed many accidents and a few deaths too. Although a simple foot over bridge would be of great help for commuters here, authorities are least bothered.

Frustrated at the apathy of authorities, Rohit Midha, a software engineer whose office used to be at the Business Park, decided to start a petition on the online petition forum, Change.org. The petition found resonance with a number of commuters and it got 11,000 signatures within two months.

“I tried calling authorities, sent a of couple mails to the BBMP and the Mayor.

However, there has been no proper response. I will try to reach the authorities and push my case,” said Rohit, who now works at a company in Jayanagar.

Two other bangaloreans have made similar petitions on the online forum that has received as many as 100 signatories.

Ramesh P, a former software engineer with Wipro who resides around the Doddnekkundi Outer Ring Road junction, is a daily witness to the mess that becomes of the place with vehicles coming from all directions, pedestrians jostling for space and risking their lives while crossing the road.

In all this commotion, traffic policemen are helpless as there is too much pressure for them to handle. “The need for a flyover was recognised a long time ago and a budgetary provision was also made two-and-a-half years’ ago. Even a survey was done and a consultant engaged to design it. Nothing much has progressed since then,” said Ramesh.

He started a petition for a flyover which has garnered around 1,700 signatories. “A copy of the petition was given to a number of persons like the BDA commissioner, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, former MLAs Arvind Limbavali and Nandish Reddy and the area corporator,” he added. While the BDA has responded positively by approving the project and hired a consultant for designing the flyover, still a lot needs to be done. “They said that the tendering process will take another six months to one year. We want it immediately,” he added.

Similarly, petitions to build flyovers at the outer ring road stretch along Marathahalli, KR Puram and Banaswadi, and a foot over bridge near Innovative Multiplex in Marathahalli have been made by other concerned citizens that has gathered great support. 

According to H R Venkatesh, director of communications, Change.org, India, the platform receives a number of petitions relating to road and pedestrian safety from the City while also saying that the concern was similar across the country.