Commercialisation woes galore in Koramangala, HSR Layout too

Being a cosmopolitan city, Bengaluru has seen development in all aspects of life. But in the process, the overt commercialistion has crept into the residential areas of the city, destroying their peace forever. DH spoke to residents of Koramangala and HSR Layout, gathering their opinions on the ups and downs of this growing trend.

The family of Chanchal Rao, a Koramangala resident, had to sell their house a few years ago, from near the 100ft road to a more peaceful area. "Traffic was one of the most important reasons for us to shift. Since we were staying parallel to the 100ft road, vehicles used to be diverted to our road. Public would park right in front of our gates. So many times it had happened that we had to literally threaten to deflate their tyres," recalls Rao.

Air pollution was another reason. "Air-conditioners from a big commercial building used to let out hot air that would enter our house. The pollution was so bad that we had to keep our windows and doors closed all the time. The area has now become totally commercialized," Rao says.

Geetha, a resident living next to a park in Koramangala, expresses her anger at a commercial building that has come up right next to her house. Though it is clearly a residential area and children come to the park to play, the building has drawn much traffic and congestion to the road.

Another building that has sprung up in the residential area has worsened Geetha's problems. "Next to my house, there is a seven-storeyed building housing many offices. Employees there drink coffee, eat paan and throw the waste into our house. There is no civic sense at all for these people," she observes.

As if this is not enough, they smoke and converse loudly and right in front of her house. "Even when the structure was being built, they had spoilt many fully grown trees in our compound. Paint and construction debris would fall from the top. Since they have not left any gap between the buildings, everything from top lands right inside our house," she points out.

Her family is now scared to even go to that side of the house. "There is also too much noise, all the time. Parking is another big problem. The whole road is filled with bikes and cars on both sides. It becomes very difficult, and we have to keep calling the police to get the vehicles removed," says Geetha.

The seven-storeyed building had no business to be in that residential area. "There was a stay order as well, but they pay money to people and keep on constructing. Earlier, they had said the building would only be three floors high with 12 houses. But now it has mostly offices and shops. However much we object, there is nobody to hear. We do not know what to do about it any more."

HSR Layout is facing similar problems as well. From being one of the city's more peaceful areas, it has turned into a hub of hotels and commercial complexes. Uma Radhakrishna, a HSR Layout resident says, "When they plan and build roads in residential areas, they do it for residents. They will keep in mind that the traffic will be less, the car movement will be less, and people will be walking more. The quality of the road won't be as thick or as strong as the commercial road."

But if the plan is for commercial areas, she says, the roads should be wide. "If they can't plan properly, they shouldn't sanction shops in these areas. It will become a nuisance for residents, because the roads get spoilt very quickly," says Uma.

Once an area turns commercial, big trucks often come to load and unload. The noise they create, particularly at night, has forced several residents to complain. But their laments fall on deaf ears, as the trucks roll on through the nights.