CMC Apathy Prompts Private Firms To Act On Roads

Builders to shape up Puttenahalli
CMC Apathy Prompts Private Firms To Act On Roads
The Times of India

Puttenahalli: Remember Puttenahalli? Yes, the same locality where woman residents blocked chief minister N Dharam Singh’s way while he was assessing the damage due to downpour in October last. Reason: bad roads and lack of basic amenities. But the scene has hardly seen any change ever since and the same is reflected in a dip in bookings for apartments.

Now to make a difference, the builders themselves are embarking on a mission to lure the customers with better roads and infrastructure.

One such builder, the Keppel Puravankara, has put up an agreement in their office that they will get the government to construct a road. Failing which the firm will lay the road at its expense before the completion of the building. Accordingly, the construction of a stretch from Puttenahalli Main Road to J P Nagar 15th Cross Road will begin soon at an estimated cost of Rs 60 lakh.

Builders of Brigade Towers is already in the process of constructing the 24th Main Road. They are also tackling the drainage problem in the area.

This is what CMC Bommanahalli authorities had to say on the issue: “We do not have the funds to carry out the works. We have identified a few problematic stretches and shall take up road restoration work soon.’’

However, Pallavi, a resident, says: “What are the authorities doing with our tax money? The area is in a pathetic state. The roads are miserable and dust pollution is unbearable. This makes travelling impossible for the people, especially for the woman and the aged ones.’’

Residents also feel that the roads are becoming narrower, and at times, are being blocked because of big buildings. With a major portion of a lake being encroached, there is disaster in the waiting during monsoon, residents say.

The area has seen a spurt in construction activity in the past three years with private developers like Keppel Puravankara, Brigade Towers and Larsen and Toubro coming up with mega multi-storied apartments. Also, the BDA-approved sites in RBI Layout, M S Ramaiah Layout are all booked. But what is lacking is the infrastructure.

Residents commuting on pothole-laden stretches and non-existent roads are complaining of backaches and frequent vehicle repairs. At the same time, builders of mega housing projects are promising customers with “heaven-like” ambience in the area. Hope the CMC authorities take necessary steps to bail out the residents from a virtual “hell-like” area by providing good roads and infrastructure.