Viveknagar: Come Thursdays, sea of humanity descends here

Come Thursdays, sea of humanity descends here
The Times of India

Bangalore: It’s an area thronged by thousands every week. The roads here are crammed, houses get inundated every time it rains and there have been outbreaks of dengue too.

Viveknagar, otherwise a relatively calm area, transforms into a pilgrim hotspot every Thursday with thousands thronging the famous Infant Jesus Shrine. On that day, the area turns into a virtual Kumbh Mela with a sea of devotees and hawkers,

and the roads packed with vehicles. The impact of the massive traffic flow is felt as far as Ejipura Main Road, Koramangala and surrounding areas. Most commuters know they have to keep away from these roads on Thursday evenings.
Viveknagar, a predominantly residential area, is today an unbalanced mix of the old and the new. Facing stiff competition by its developed neighbours — Koramangala, Richmond Town and Victoria Layout — the area struggles to cope with them. It still lacks basic amenities like adequate water supply and sewage system.

If traffic woes seem endless, under-development adds to woes of this overpopulated area, which incidentally is also notorious for anti-social activities.

Roads in the area are narrow and often jammed with vehicles. The busy market adds to chaotic traffic for most part of the day. The roads connect central Bangalore with areas towards Airport Road, Koramangala and Ulsoor.

Viveknagar, however, is known for the Infant Jesus Shrine, set up in the late seventies and has since attracted large gatherings of devotees. The church’s new building was opened a few months ago and has a basement parking facility, which eases the traffic congestion considerably.

Though Viveknagar is predominantly residential, it is going the way of any developing area in the city with commercial establishments mushrooming at many places.

Some big shopping malls are located on the fringes of the area. For many years, the area, dotted with winestores, has earned a notoriety for anti-social activities. The area police have a tough time keeping a check on such activities, particularly at communally sensitive areas like L.R. Nagar slum which adjoin Viveknagar.

Another problem is houses getting inundated every time it rains. Located in a lowlying area, the National Games Village is built on a tank bed and the drainage system is not effective. Two years ago, there was an outbreak of dengue fever. A few weeks back, several cases of gastroenteritis were reported after sewage got mixed with drinking water.