Suddenly, there’s a roadblock here!

Suddenly, there’s a roadblock here!
Deccan Herald

Vehicular traffic on St Mark’s Road was restricted without prior notice on Sunday morning when the BWSSB dug up a portion of the road.

There was utter confusion, chaos and commotion near the St Mark’s Road — Richmond Road junction (Cash Pharmacy junction) and Anil Kumble Circle on Sunday evening.

Traffic movement on busy St Mark’s Road was restricted without giving prior notice to the public.

This was sufficient to enrage the road users to argue with the traffic police.

The vehicular traffic was restricted as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) dug up a stretch of St Mark’s Road suddenly on Sunday morning following the caving in of a portion of the road near Cash Pharmacy.

Traffic from the Anil Kumble Circle to St Mark’s Road was also banned.

With the blocking of St Mark’s Road, now the traffic is diverted to Residency Road leading to St Mark’s Road at the SBM circle (opposite to India Garage).

According to BWSSB, the sanitary pipeline, which is about 40 to 50 years old, “collapsed entirely” and is beyond repaired.

This came to notice when trying to clear a block in the line on Saturday. Replacement on the same side of the road is not possible because the cables or lines of many other services are nearby, BWSSB authorities said.

BWSSB is therefore deviating the particular stretch of the sanitary line — measuring about 50 metres — to the other side of the road. Reinforced compressed concrete pipes of 18-inch diameter are being laid in place of the earlier sanitary stone pipes of seven-inch diameter, the BWSSB authorities said. The work would be completed in next two days.

Commuters were irked to find the sudden ban. P A Shankar, a hardware businessman who was found arguing with the traffic police, said that he had an important business meeting with his customers at St Mark’s hotel.

It was not right on the part of the police to suddenly ban entry to the road without any notice, he said.

Sunitha, a BBM student said, she had to walk nearly half a kilometre to reach Rhythms, a music store, as the road was blocked. The authorities should have cautioned the public about the closure of the road, she said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East) M A Saleem said vehicles would not be allowed on St Mark’s Road on Monday and Tuesday as well.

“We could not inform the public about the inconvenience as the BWSSB took up the work in the morning. The traffic police held an emergency meeting this morning to make an alternative arrangement for movement of vehicles,” he added.