Myriad civic and infrastructure problems plague HBR Layout

HBR Layout is facing a myriad civic and infrastructure problems despite its proximity to many IT hubs of the City. Several petitions and pleas of the residents have fallen on deaf ears though the State’s Home Minister K J George is the local MLA.

While many roads in the layout are battered, the residents of 5th Block, first phase are the ones who are bearing the brunt of the poor civic infrastructure. Dilip Churiwal, a resident of Ganga Heights apartment said that for the first time, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) took up the task of asphalting the road around three months ago in the area. However, the civic agency's haphazard work exposed when the asphalt gave away resulting in potholes.

“We fear that the funds allotted by Palike is being misutilised by the contractors. The ward corporator B Govindaraju, few years ago, had claimed that Rs 45 crore has been sanctioned for improving the roads in HBR Layout. But I wonder whether the money has been used since no development work has been carried out barring some. A thorough probe needs to be conducted,"added Churiwal.

It is not just the roads, even the basic facilities such as streetlights, post office, milk booth, park, bus terminal, Hopcoms outlet among others are not provided in the layout formed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) .

“The civic amenity ( CA) sites allotted by BDA are being misused. a builder has been constructing a house on a CA site on 18th Main Road. Similarly, another site located on the same road meant for bus terminal is lying vacant and infested with shrubs. It could be used for park or recreational club for residents,” said Jaykumar K, another resident.

No response

The residents have already submitted a memorandum to Mayor, BDA Commissioner, Managing Director of Bescom, secretary to Forest department, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and all the senior officers of the government, but there has been no response till date. Fed up with the negligent attitude of BBMP as well other government authorities, the residents are planning to stage a protest and launch a hunger strike. 

“The road has been damaged due to sanitary works. Providing amenities such as park, milk booth and others is the responsibility of BDA and not the civic body," said local corporator, Govindaraju.