Poor maintenance of subway at Majestic

Poor maintenance of subway at Majestic
Vijay Times

HAVE you ever used the pedestrian subway that connects the City railway Station and the BMTC and KSRTC bus stands at Majestic? If not, think twice before making up your mind to use it. For, you will be greeted into an unhygienic paradise with unbearable stench emanating from the stagnant water and the paan stained walls.

A walk down this subway stands testimony to the pathetic state of some public places in this hi-tech City.

The subway, constructed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) in 1994 to enable connectivity between the railway station and the bus stands, has been poorly maintained. Despite the subway being used by thousands of travelling public, the upkeep of the place has been neglected.

In addition to unhygienic conditions prevailing here, the subway is dotted by hawkers, hindering the easy movement of the public. The red stain of the paan and thick cobwebs on the walls of the subway stands testimony to the apathy of the authorities concerned. Undoubtedly, the place has not been cleaned for a long time.

Further, the subway turns into a virtual pool during rainy season. With no place for the rain water to clear, the water stagnates causing inconvenience to those using the subway. The uneven flooring adds to the danger of people tripping and having a fall.

"During monsoon, the rain water enters the subway and there is no outlet for the water to clear. The stagnated water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In addition to people painting the walls red with spitting the paan, some even dont hesitate to relieve themselves inside the subway during night. What is the BMP showing a negligent attitude towards maintenance of the subway," Ramamurthy, a resident of Hebbal, who regularly uses the subway told BVT.

As the lighting is poor, it becomes difficult for the public to see the boards put up in the subway that directs you towards the BMTC and KSRTC bus stands, he adds.

"Why blame the civic body alone for poor maintenance of the subway. It is the duty of every citizen to ensure that even public places are kept clean. As long as we dont develop civic sense and refrain from spitting, urinating and littering on streets and public places, we cant dream of having a clean and healthy surrounding," says Saroja, lecturer in a City college.

When BVT brought this to the notice of BMP chief engineer Satyanarayana, he admitted that BMP was aware of the issue and assured that suitable action will be initiated immediately.

Another senior official in the BMP said that the civic body can look forward to good revenue by letting the space putting up advertisements in the subway. "The commissioner should take a decision on this immediately. By doing so, we can handover maintenance of the subway to the respective companies," he said.

Poor maintenance of subway at Majestic