JOIN USIn Bengaluru anything is possible - like the footpaths on Mysuru Road that lead straight to graveyards. With no space available for pedestrians, walking on Mysuru Road is actually walking to death.
The symbolism is real because you literally see the footpaths and graveyards winding into each other.
Mysuru Road has been widened, no doubt. But the widening is to such an extent that the road on both sides runs right up to shops and buildings with no space for footpath. The only space for pedestrians to walk is on the road’s edge, with the grave risk of being hit by vehicles that may veer to the extremes.
There had been much fury over the years that the road was too narrow. Finally, the BBMP widened the road after bringing down some structures on both sides. But no one thought it fit that a basic footpath be constructed. Ask cab driver K S Dushyanth, who works in the area:
“There are no footpaths on both sides and then there are no pedestrian crossings nor any skywalks all the way from Sirsi Circle to Bangalore University. The only skywalk is close to the Kengeri bus station.” At strategic points, pedestrian crossings have not been painted boldy across the road and there are no signals at these points. Says Mohammed Safiulla, a Mysuru Road trader:
“There are no pedestrian crossings, skywalks or subways to cross the road from either side. It is very risky to cross the road on the ground. We have to look for vehicles on both sides and once we cross one part of the road, we have to wait in the middle to cross over to the other side. Anything can happen while crossing and waiting for vehicles to stop.”
Typically, one sees people crossing from end to end in small groups, especially near the beginning of the flyover at Sirsi Circle. From the flyover to the road, vehicles ply very fast and if at all they stop, they do so close to a burial ground.
This is the only signal before the one at BHEL Circle, which is a good 2-3 km away. Between these two points, there are no pedestrian crossings nor are there footpaths. From BHEL Circle up to Kengeri too, there are no pedestrian crossing facilities.
You see people walking on the edge of the road as there are no footpaths. This can be extremely dangerous at night if vehicle drivers don’t sight people walking on the sides.
A major problem for pedestrians is at the Nayandalli junction. Says Dushyanth:
“There are three roads which meet at this junction near the Bangalore University entry point - the Mysuru Road, the Nagarbhavi Road and the ring road. Nowhere near this junction are traffic signs to help pedestrians cross from one point to another. A flyover has been completed and traffic from City centre now moves smoothly over the flyover to Mysuru. But nothing is in order beneath the structure.”
All traders operating from Mysuru Road would be glad if proper walking space is made available. Even now, the edges of the road can be taken up for footpath construction.
Traffic markings need to be painted on the roads clearly to make the road safer for pedestrians. Else, a tragedy is waiting to happen like it unfolded near Hebbal on Airport road recently.