Bannerghatta Road yet to be repaired even after a year

Bannerghatta Road yet to be repaired even after a year

The Hindu


BANGALORE: Soon after the first rains last year, those living or working along Bannerghatta Road held a demonstration, blocking all traffic for some hours. They were angry that repeated appeals to repair the road had been ignored.

The road is outside the BMP limits and is under Bommanahalli City Municipal Council (CMC) — a fact many residents were not aware of.

This meant the Public Works Department (PWD) had to carry out most of the road repairs with only part of the funds needed coming from the CMC, according to some officials connected with the work.

There were weeks of delay initially because pipelines and cables of utility agencies had to be shifted to widen the road for two-lane traffic. There was no median, and with drivers swerving their vehicles to avoid the huge craters, and in some spots tree stumps leftover after previous attempts at widening, traffic was chaotic and accidents common.

A four-km stretch between the tail-end of J.P. Nagar and the Meenkashi Sundareswara Temple was to be rebuilt with private participation.

This stretch has a number of upmarket apartment blocks and the residents were willing to meet part of the repair cost. The road here has been considerably widened and partly resurfaced and asphalted. The rest of the road remains in poor condition.

Perhaps, the worst stretch of Bannerghatta Road is from the temple to Hulimavu Gate and a bit beyond.

Only one side of the road is usable, and with heavy vehicles frequently using the road, the stretch is not for smaller vehicles unless they move slowly.

Another reason why traffic is chaotic is that the flyover at the Jayadeva Hospital junction has remained incomplete. Those studying and working at the Indian Institute of Management now have to take a detour though BTM Layout to reach the Ring Road. To go towards Dairy Circle, drivers have to take various lanes to avoid the debris around the flyover construction site.

According to PWD officials, while the work was delayed at the beginning, a steady pace is maintained afterwards. Removing tree stumps and

shifting of pipelines and cables by utility agencies took time. While the road may not be really ready now, chances are some of the worst stretches may be slightly more driver-friendly by the time the rainy season sets.