BANGALORE: The virtue of equality seems to be flourishing in the city as the same balanced treatment is being meted out to both the common man and the people in power. While several parts of the city has been witnessing laying of slabs on drains, the 80 ft Road, Ashwathanagar which, plays the host to the home of the former chief minister of Karnataka, BS Yeddyurappa, has been subjected to pathetic treatment by the authorities concerned, standing true to the words that build our nation.Construction material strewn across the road, garbage disposed in heaps and lack of footpaths seems to be the status of the street as the other 80 ft roads of Koramangala and Indiranagar make their way into the future with a confident step.Backlash of actionThe Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) began work on the relaying of stone slabs to cover the open drains so as to counter the ill effects that they bring with them.But the delay in work in addition to the disposal of construction material has led to severe problems for the commuters and pedestrians alike.Nisha, a student of MS Ramaiah Engineering College, opposite which the road is located, remarked, “One can begin the difficult journey from the college by taking very small steps and keeping your eyes pointedly on the road. Don’t take your eyes off it or you might just hit a stone slab. If you are driving, then, beware of the pebbles and the crushed stone on the street.” 80 ft of no footpathsOne side of the 80 ft road has no pedestrian pathways to talk of. In a few places where they do exist, they are either broken or have been dumped with construction material. While one side of the road has been installed with neat benches and pavement blocks, the other seems to be conveniently forgotten by the authorities. The lack of the same adds to the chaos already caused in a critical way. Most pedestrians choose to walk on the side of the road that is well infrastructured giving the term ‘grass on the other side always looks greener’ a new meaning.Refuse on the roadGarbage dumped on both sides often overspills on the lane making it very difficult to traverse through the road mainly for the motorists.The dump draws its share of cows, flies, stray dogs and mosquitoes scrounging for food and breeding.Several houses that are situated in the small by-lanes are the worst affected. The health hazards created by the same goes quietly ignored by the authorities.Make way for the trucksThe lane also seems to be a hotspot for the parking of many trucks and it often leads to severe traffic woes on the road.Furthermore, several mounds of material laid out on the streets eats up space and leads to congestion.Voicing grievancesA resident of the area, Geetha, asserted, “We are waiting for the nightmare to get over so as to get on with our lives. When it rains, the drains overflow with the dirty water often entering our houses. Everyday it just gets worse.” Priya, a commuter, said, “It is perilous to drive through the road. One might get seriously injured due to the authorities not realising the gravity of the situation.The sand on the road leads to drifting. The stone slabs often block the way. The pedestrians have no where to go. ” Authorities retaliateThe local corporator, D Venkatesha, informed City Express that the work had been delayed due to the Bangalore Electric Supply Company (BESCOM) work in the area.“The work has been undertaken at quite a fast pace. I will ensure that it is completed in next 20-25 days.”
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