Mysuru's Rane Madaras road remains a death trap for 5 years, KIADB faces heat

Despite housing the campuses of reputed tech and manufacturing giants, Rane Madras Road, located in the Hebbal Industrial Area off the Ring Road, in Mysuru, remains in a state of disrepair.

The stretch, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Karnataka State government's Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), has been neglected for years, leaving thousands of commuters and local businesses in a lurch.

According to a local security personnel, the road has been in a deplorable condition for five to six years. Nagesh, a security guard, pointed out that the road’s deterioration began after it was dug up to install a gas pipeline. "The broken-down stretch spans approximately two kilometres, starting from a petrol station, and progressively worsens further down the road," he said.

The route is crucial, as it connects the back entrance of major companies like L&T Technology Services, San Engineering and Locomotive, Rane Madras, Automotive Axles, besides residential areas like BEML quarters and Podar School, Nagesh said.

Nightmare

The constant movement of heavy trucks and loaded industrial vehicles worsens the road's condition, making it difficult for two-wheeler riders. Locals complained that accidents are a frequent occurrence.

A security guard of L&T Technology Services, Kiran, who has been working in the area for eight months, stated that riders frequently fall while attempting to navigate the deep potholes.

Director and CEO of Learners' Digital Skill Development Centre, Murali Mohan Konareddy, said that many accidents have occurred on this stretch. “Beyond the physical danger, the lack of a proper road surface has created environmental and economic issues. During the dry season, the road is engulfed in thick dust, while rains turn it into a stagnant pool of muddy water. Dust pollution is directly hitting the livelihood of small vendors and commuters," he said.

Harsha, who has worked in a bakery on this road for three years, said that customers do not visit his shop when the dust becomes unbearable.

Apathy

Despite the grave issues, there appears to be a systemic failure in addressing the grievances. A major hurdle is the lack of clarity among the tenants regarding the civic jurisdiction.

Nagesh said that many people do not even know whom to officially complain to, regarding the KIADB-governed road. “While the building owners have assured their tenants that a repair contract is in the pipeline, there is no concrete timeline on when the actual work will commence,” he said.

Kiran stated that the authorities merely offer empty promises to fix the issue, without taking any actual steps.