It is a tough drive to the prime locality of Shantinagar

It is a tough drive to the prime locality of Shantinagar
The Hindu

BANGALORE, APRIL 5. Several stretches of roads here have been dug up and not restored properly for the last one-and-a-half years. Streetlights, even on the main roads, have been dysfunctional for nearly 20 days now. And the only approach road is blocked with cars parked on both sides.

No, we are not talking about an area that has been newly added to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) limits. This is Shantinagar, a prime locality sandwiched between Chamarajpet and Bharatinagar Assembly constituencies.

Residents of Nanjappa Road, Basappa Road and Lakshmi Road in Shantinagar are worried that the only approach road to the area from Kengal Hanumanthaiya Road (K.H. Road) is blocked with parked vehicles at any given time because the business establishments situated on the main road use the approach road for parking.

"It is such a nuisance. We cannot drive our vehicles through this road to reach our homes. Cars are parked on both sides along Nanjappa Road and it is irritating, especially in the morning, when you are in a hurry to reach office," Sanjeev Kumar, a resident, said.

That is not all. Several families of the business community have moved into the area from Chickpet, Balepet and surrounding areas. "These people run their business from their homes and heavy vehicles are parked near the entrance of their houses for unloading. Though this causes inconvenience to the neighbours, these businessmen are not bothered," Mr. Kumar said.

The president of the Shantinagar Residents' Welfare and Cultural Association, P.S. Gnana Prakash, pointed out that four schools are located in the area and it is difficult for the students to cross K.H. Road and reach the schools. Though the residents have been demanding a subway connecting Nanjappa Road and Sudhamanagar (situated on the other side of K.H. Road), the authorities are yet to consider the request, he said.

Another resident, T.S. Basavaraj, said coconut palms along Nanjappa Road pose a danger to residents. "The fronds of these trees have fallen on live wires several times, resulting in a power failure. It is dangerous if the wires snap and fall on the passers-by. It was after one such incident that the streetlights became dysfunctional. Though Bangalore Electricity Supply Company responded promptly, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is yet to restore the streetlights," he said.

A few residents alleged that the corporator, K. Vasudeva Murthy, does not visit the area.

Corporator's promise

When contacted, Mr. Vasudeva Murthy said the roads are in a bad condition because of digging by other service providers. "This road was asphalted last April. This year too, all roads in my area have been included in the list for asphalting. But before that, asphalting of the nearby Shanti Road will be taken up within a week. I will include Nanjappa Road also in the same package," he said.

Claiming that he is not aware of the streetlight problem, he said he will get them restored immediately. "I will also speak to the traffic police and get `no-parking' boards installed all along Nanjappa Road," he added.