Times Civic 1: Malleswaram

TIMES CIVIC - 1 MALLESWARAM
The Times of India

Smooth roads chock-a-block
Plans Afoot to Construct An Underpass, Flyover, New Market
Civic amenities make up an area. But it is the adequacy or inadequacy of these amenities and their effect on the lives of residents that lend character to an area. Starting this week, we go civic and take a close look at the nature of the several areas in the city — the problems, plus points and all that falls in between.

Bangalore: If there’s one area reflective of glass-apartmentcommercialisation culture replacing palatial independent homes and stone-slab pavements, Malleswaram it is.

With a population of over 2.5 lakh people, the area is the face of old world charm and the upwardly mobile. To its credit, it is also one area which does not see rampant flooding when it rains, does not have paper dosa roads and where traffic jams are restricted to some arterial roads. To its commercial credit — and a dis-service to its civic infrastructure — some of the best known roads suffer from unmanageable traffic, pavement hawkers and buildings too big for their boots.

The pulse of the area, 8th cross, is a chaos of traffic, pedestrians, hawkers and sallying shoppers. Add to this the fact that two major temples dot the road, leading to every inch of parking space being taken all the time. The entrance to the road is marred by auto rickshaws blocking the way — traversing through the 200 yards thereon is an Herculean task. To help facilitate easier movement, the BCC, a few weeks ago, cleared the road and its bylanes of hawkers and demolished unauthorised structures. The association of traders came down vehemently against the demolition and as brawn will have it, the structures and pavement hawkers are back.

Traffic is the one sole problem eating into the soul of the area. Sampige Road, Mohammadan Block, Malleswaram circle, the 17th cross bridge — which is the only thoroughfare for West of Chord Road, Mahalakshmi layout — are key roads that are perennially crowded.

The demand for public transport in Malleswaram is increasing with a hunger that authorities don’t quite know how to tackle. Thanks to a major busterminal — 18th cross — near Ammanni college, people using public transport are taken care of. Similarly, with bus-stands at Mohammadan Block and Devaiah Park. But the frequency of buses, say passengers, is not proportional with the demand. BMTC has plans of increasing the fleet and routes that pass through Malleswaram and are working out more frequency for other buses. There is a marked auto stand at Malleswaram circle and fares are left to the whims of the drivers despite a police station nearby.

Corporator Muniraju has ambitious plans. Though two projects were announced in two successive budgets — the Yeshwanthpur-Malleswaram flyover, grade separator at Malleswaram circle — even a take-off is elusive. Similarly with the upgrading and construction of a modern complex at Malleswaram market.

Can the area take it?

VITAL STATISTICS
Area: Malleswaram, ward 7
Problem areas: Sampige road; 8th cross; Mohammadan Block; New Market Road; East Park Road, West Park Road.
Bus-stands: Malleswaram Circle, Devaiah Park, 18th cross.
Railway station: From two trains earlier, there are now 18 running through Malleswaram Railway Station.
Bone of contention: Chaotic traffic in residential roads, bad drainage system near Sampige theatre, Mohammadan Block, perennially congested 8th cross and its by-lanes.
Plus point: No flooding even during heavy rains.

MLASPEAK: M R SEETHARAM
The roads here are comparatively better. Because of the huge influx of apartments, there is no place to grow, any building growth has to be vertical. Traffic is chaotic but what can one do if 1,000 new vehicles are getting added everyday? The formal pooja for starting work on the underpass slated for Malleswaram circle will probably be in late September. This will ease traffic but it will take time, may be a year. We also have plans of replacing the 70-year old sewerage and water system from Malleswaram circle to 18th cross, Sampige Road to 8th cross.