Repair works inconvenience motorists, residents

Repair works inconvenience motorists, residents
Vijay Times

MOTORISTS and pedestrians passing through Kranthi Kavi Sarvagna Road in Okalipuram have been put to hardship for the past one week.

In a bid to desilt and widen the side drain to enable easy flow of storm water during monsoons, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has taken up work on widening of drains in Okalipuram.

With the drain being dug open, huge stone slabs that covered the drain and the loose soil have been haphazardly strewn on the narrow main road, thus causing inconvenience to road users.

According to residents and shopkeepers on the main road which falls under the Sevashram Ward, the drains had not been repaired since 60 years.

"With two-way traffic on the road, where BMTC buses also move, there used to be regular traffic jams during peak hours. Now, with the space on the road being further reduced with debris and stones strewn around, there is endless traffic jam through out the day. As the main road leads to Srirampuram there is heavy movement of vehicles," a traffic police, who was facing difficulty in controlling traffic on the congested road. . Raheem, a resident, said, "The road is too narrow. While one side of the footpath is dug, the other side has become an open toilet. The authorities concerned should expedite work and enable easy movement of traffic." BMTC bus conductor Ashwath says, "Whenever our bus enters this stretch, I have to play the role of a traffic policeman directing the bus driver on its movement. During peak hours, at least two traffic policemen are needed to handle the situation.” When the issue was raised before area corporator V Nagaraj, he said, "Work is going on day and night. We will finish it soon." Reacting to problems faced by road users on this stretch, BMP Commissioner K Jairaj assured that to direct officials concerned to shift the stone slabs and soil from the roadside till the work is complete.