Messy, narrow Shivajinagar needs immediate relook

TIMES CIVIC — 8 SHIVAJINAGAR
Messy, narrow Shivajinagar needs immediate relook
The Times of India

Bangalore: On certain days, water in some of the drains in Shivajinagar turns red. Reason: Dumping of remains of butchered meat in the drains. The other drains are no better; they open up after the slightest rain.

Every mayor who visits the area is mandatorily shown these drains, but there is no improvement. The sanitary lines here are a remnant of the erstwhile British Raj. And so is the market selling exotic fruits and vegetables. But, the legacy has not been carried on. For, the sanitary lines burst very often and the market is unkempt. Easily billed as one of the clumsiest areas in the central business district, Shivajinagar’s profile is marked by narrow lanes, bad roads, overflowing garbage bins, messy meat shops, traffic chaos and unhygienic environs.

If you look at Shivajinagar as an assembly constituency, it is the smallest segment with 1.6 lakh population, comprising three BCC wards — Shivajinagar, Sampangiramnagar and Vasantnagar.

The only visible development in the area over the last five years is the multi-storeyed parking complex-cum-bus However, the parking area of the complex continues to be under-utilised as on-street parking on adjacent roads has not been banned.

The area predominantly has narrow roads and all zoning regulations here have been thrown to the winds. For, there is no differentiation between residential area and commercial area, thanks to violations. Extended shops on the roads, encroachment of pavements by vendors, haphazard parking has made Shivajinagar a chaotic area.

“You name it and the problem exists here. Since there is no strict enforcement of rules, shops have mushroomed all over and the entire area is nothing but a noisy market. The situation has reached such a stage that the residential dwellings are crammed between commercial establishments,’’ complained an area resident Srinivasa Naidu.

“Shivajinagar will never be improved as it is a powerful votebank. Elected representatives will not want to waste their time and resources on improving the sweepers’ colony and milkman’s colony. Let the BCC or police try removing the encroachments near the Basilica, there will be riots. You need strong political will to uplift the area,’’ Sameera Banu, another resident, added. The age-old civic utilities which are unable to cope with the pressure often give way. “The drainage seepage near the temple opposite the bus stand has become an eyesore now. The corporator hasn’t bothered to set it right even after several complaints. It is also becoming a health hazard,’’ said Syed Siraj Ahmed.

According to Shivajinagar MLA Katta Subramanya Naidu, the BCC has approved a project to take up the comprehensive regradation of Broadway storm water drain, but the work has been delayed. “Since the drain does not have required depression, it floods during rains. It also has an impact on the connected drains. If the BCC fails to start work, I will launch a protest,’’ Naidu added.

ENCROACHMENTS, DRAINS AMONG PROBLEMS

• Large-scale violations of zonal regulations.
• Encroachment of pavements.
• Age-old civic utilities which cannot take the overload.
• The storm water drain at Broadway is a major eyesore which has to be regraded.
• Roads need immediate facelift.