BANGALORE: One always visualises Richmond Road with tall buildings, kids making their way from or to school with heavy backpacks slung across their shoulders and of course, a hub of the IT industries. The long, coiling road seems to be snapping under the stress that it has been made to bear. The saga of the road now includes open drains, BWSSB work, footpaths blocked and pothole laden roads.The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has begun work on the laying of underground sanitary pipes on Hayes Road, a bylane of Richmond Road. The residents seem to be taking this move by the authorities with a pinch of salt. It brings with it huge mounds of mud, mini-pools of muddy water and the common problem of vehicles using only one side of the road. The road has been dug up with mud being discarded on both sides. This has left pedestrians with no pavement and the residents in despair as they have no path out of their houses. On the condition of anonymity, a resident, said, “When I was leaving office yesterday, in oblivion about the work in progress, I stepped directly onto the mud. The sight of my boots that day was something to remember.”The main road is laden with potholes in several key locations. The mud forms a heap making it a bumpy ride for commuters. Also, the depth of a few of these craters in close proximity to the bus stop are a matter of concern. Uma, a motorist, remarked, “The major problem with the road is the fact that if a person does not use this road regularly, he/she will not be aware of the pothole. One cannot gauge the extent of it, mainly when it rains, leaving commuters in a lurch.” The issue is highlighted due to the heavy traffic inflow that the road witnesses everyday. Commuters say that the neglection of one of the most busiest roads in the city is what has left them appalled. Ganita, a resident of the nearby locality of Victoria Layout, said, “The road stays busy round the clock. One does not see it empty and kids and college students are strolling around on the road most of the time. The peril to which the people are exposed to seems to be conveniently forgotten by the authorities.”Another issue with the road is the drains that have left open on many places. Mosquitoes swarm the water, garbage has been dumped into it and pedestrians are forced to play skipping stones. The stench from the same leaves pedestrians not taking a whiff throughout the expanse. Wires lay unattended to. On one side of the street, piles of mud at equidistant places has added to the long list of woes that the area is plagued with.BWSSB workers on the road informed City Express that a minimum of 15 days was required for the completion of the work. Raghu, the assistant engineer for the area for the BWSSB was unavailable for comments. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) incharge for the area, Murthy, said, “The concrete work on the potholes has begun. It will be covered in two to three days. The holidays has obstructed the pace of our work.”
Comments
0 comment