Congestion, crowd and civic woes aplenty haunt residents here

Congestion, crowd and civic woes aplenty haunt residents here

Deccan Herald

The choc-o-bloc of filth, overflowing human populace, strays and vehicles in the narrow streets and lanes between the offices of MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao of the Congress and BMP Corporator V Nagaraj of the JD(S) on the Srirampuram Road leading to the Sevashrama School, holds much of the story of politics and development in Gandhinagar Assembly constituency.

Mr Dinesh Gundu Rao, a second time legislator of Gandhinagar, is the State Youth Congress President. Speaking to Deccan Herald he acknowledged that in the last six months the uncertainty and compulsions of the coalition government had not been given him time to frequent his constituency as much he as he would have like to.

That, the residents of Gandhinagar ward under which falls the classy Kumara Park West are anything but happy with their corporator is an inkling to the uphill task before the Gandhinagar legislator.

The Kumara Park West Residents’ Welfare Association president Ramakanth noted that their demand for pedestrian crossing signals along Seshadripuram I Main Road which is a one-way have fallen on deaf ears for the last three years. When their corporator turned out to be of little help, the residents followed the matter with the authorities on their own. They even got a traffic consultant to inspect area and took his recommendation to the authorities. It was of no avail though. ‘The police now tell us that they are short of funds and more importantly our road does not figure in the priority list of roads!’ observed Mr Ramakanth.

Haphazardly laid pavement slabs in some areas and the total lack of a pavement in others on the road leading from Seshadripuram Police Station towards Guttahalli Circle is another problem to be noted here.

Falling under the Gandhinagar constituency is also the teeming Majestic area which houses the KSRTC and BMTC main bus stops and the City Railway Station. Congestion is the order through the most part of the day. Cinema houses, boarding and lodging establishments and more importantly bars and dance bars abound.

While the area corporator Vasanthakumari considers dance bars and bars are a matter of concern, Mr Dinesh Gundu Rao thinks otherwise. ‘The area is largely commercial, the resident population is just around 2,500 (voters 1,500). It is mostly a floating population and therefore theatres and bars will continue to thrive. They don’t really affect the small resident population’, he said.

Both KSRTC and private buses are parked on the main road adjoining the boundary wall of the KSRTC bus stop. Cleaners and drivers go about cleaning and repairing their vehicles through the day. Not only does it dirty the area it is encroachment on an already congested area pointed out some businessmen in the area. The KSRTC instead of housing commercial units within the bus stop premises should make space for such cleaning purposes, said some.

As much as 65 per cent of population of Gandhinagar Assembly constituency are Tamilis and they are by and large housed in its 27 slum pockets. Originally they were all employed in the textile mills. With the demise of the once famous Raja mills and others, they have shifted to occupations related to construction and agarbathi making.

Ramachandrapura ward houses many small industries most of which are foundry related. Housed along the conservancy lanes, space is a constraint for these industries and most of the work is done in the the open. Liquid waste from the foundries flowing on to the roads is an unmanageable problem for the road users.
Freedom park, flyovers, parks - BMP and BDA projects all figured among the works or projects that Mr Dinesh Gundu Rao sought to point out as his achievements. No funds were given for the MLAs during the last four years and works were taken up in conjunction with the local body, he said.

Conflict of interests with the corporators or otherwise, there seemed to be word of advise and warning for the Gandhinagar MLA in the words of a resident ‘He should know that he has been elected for the second time. He should be more forceful in getting things done now’.

VOTERS’ VOICE
Dr Narasimhakumar, a physician, Swatantrapalya: For the last six months it can be said that things are at a stand still. Development has been no plus - no minus!

Lucykumari, agarbhathi worker, Ramakrishnasevanagar: Of late the lane and adjoining culverts leading to hutments have been repaired and improved.

G Vijay, a resident, V R Naradanagar: Sheshadripuram is so close to us, but we have to go roundabout. We have been asking the authorities for a rail-road cross, but they say that the Railways come under Central government.

Selvan, a iron works personnel Saibabanagar: Earlier this area was prone to law and order problems. That is not so now. Coming up of new houses has brought developments.

DINESH’S DEFENCE
*Heavy rains during the recent monsoon had caused a lot of damage to the roads. Repair works have just started.
*Change of water and sanitary lines are being taken up in all the 27 slums under Gandhinagar constituency.
*Grade separate work at Maharani’s college is awaiting the completion of the Ananda Rao Circle flyover.
*The completion of the Rajajinagar flyover was delayed to rise in steel prices, it will be through soon.
*Developed the playground at Sevashrama complete with a pavilion; an indoor stadium at Sirur park is in the pipeline, the Jakarayanakere playground work has been put on hold because the Metro rail is likely to pass through it.
*The slum dwellers in the constituency have not been given the possession proof of their houses for the last 30 to 40 years. I am addressing the issue in earnest.