No money to paint the CBD

With the festive season round the corner, is the Central Business District (CBD) going to be spruced up? The answer is no. The BBMP has no plans to give the CBD a makeover this festive season, which means that old buildings and sidewalks will not be painted at all.

 Lakshminarayana, the commissioner of the BBMP, says that other than mending the broken footpaths and filling the potholes, the BBMP will not be able to do anything more this year, including not applying a fresh coat of paint to the old buildings with peeled off paintings.

 “We have started filling the potholes and mending the footpaths. We are also planning to put up electrical lights within a few days so that people can see the lights up on MG Road and Brigade Road very soon. However, resurfacing the roads will take some time as we have asked the BMRCL to take the responsibility for the roads in and around the CBD. Both the BBMP and the BMRCL have been vested with the responsibility for the maintenance of this area and we have a 50-50 stake. Hence, mending the roads will not be possible so soon,” he informs.

Bangaloreans are puzzled as to whether they will see the tourist hot spots in the City like Brigade Road, Commercial Street, Church Street etc clean and well-lit during the Christmas and New Year.

The City plays hosts to many tourists who visit Bangalore during this time of the year and CBD happens to be the place which the tourists make a point to visit.

There are multiple issues haunting areas in and around CBD like garbage, broken footpaths and clogged drains. Despite BBMP’s claim of attending to the problems of the area, nothing has been done on the ground. 

RadhaKrishna, who visits CBD regularly, says that places like Church Street and Brigade Road are some areas which are thronged by revelers during any festivity, especially during the Christmas season.

 “Cleanliness is a prime concern in these areas. The roads, footpaths and sidewalks are anything but clean. The drains in these areas are clogged and one shower is enough to dampen the spirit of the party goers. The footpaths in Church Street are heaped with garbage.

That stretch has some popular cafes and restaurants and anyone visiting Brigade Road drops by that part of the neighbourhood. As a Bangalorean, I definitely hope that CBD looks welcoming and not filthy this Christmas season,” he says.

Besides cleaning the drains, mending the broken footpaths and pipes, citizens suggest that the BBMP should also think about installing more dustbins, painting the bus stops and putting a fresh coat of tar to hide the huge potholes.

Shivika, a student, points out, “Commercial Street needs additional space for parking as it becomes very difficult to walk when so many cars are lined up on that narrow road. Placing additional dustbins in CBD during the party season will also help.”

According to traders and businessmen in CBD, the foreign tourists have started pouring in already. In fact, they say that this year they have spotted more foreigners in the City.

“Whether it is a weekend or a working day, we can see more foreign tourists in this area as compared to previous years. It is probably because India is the new tourist destination or a cheaper country to visit,” informs Hafeez, a trader on the Rest House Road.