Mr CM are you listening?

Mr CM are you listening?
Dasarahalli – Dunked Deep in Dust
deccan herald

No roads, only dust - is what one sees at Dasarahalli - predominantly a residential area, close to the Peenya Industrial Estate. Located on the north-east edge of Bangalore, the roads here have been neglected for decades.

Only the main roads are motorable, while the condition of most bylanes and service roads is deplorable. Potholes, long untarred stretches of road double up as dumping yards. The condition worsens during the rains, which is dreaded by the residents.

Though basic facilities like proper roads, drainage system and waste management are missing, you will be surprised to note that no resident is keen on complaining. Reason: Most residents are accustomed to the severe dearth of infrastructure and also to the government apathy.


Ayesha Yasmin, a pharmacist residing on the Pipeline road, has not seen any development work carried out for the last two decades.

“The stench in the locality is unbearable as garbage gets piled up with no one to clear it for days,” she rues.

The extent of neglect is evident. Muddy roads, which turn into slushy pits during the rains, has now forced the residents to fill the potholes themselves. However, such temporary measures will just not suffice. The scenario at the neighbouring Peenya Industrial Estate and Rajgopalnagar is no different from Dasarahalli.

Voicing the concerns of the industrialists, Mr A P Padmanadh, immediate past President, Peenya Industrial Association says, “This area generates a revenue of Rs 2,000 crores. Yet, the government has not bothered to improve the infrastructure here. If the roads in one of Asia’s biggest industrial zones can be so pathetic, it comes as no big surprise that the roads in the residential colonies are pitiable.”

Says Mr Thimmaraju, Chairman, Dasarahalli City Municipal Council, “As per a GIS survey, there are nearly 3,319 roads, which add up to 412.5 km. Every month, we will require about Rs 40 lakh for maintenance, but have no funds. Dearth of funds is a persistent problem and we have to make do with bad roads. Moreover, unauthorised properties have further reduced our revenue.”

“One of the main reasons for bad road is the ongoing works to lay the Cauvery pipeline,” he added. “Within a fortnight, Stree Shakthi groups will begin the door-to-door garbage collection and disposal,” assured Thimmaraju.

According to Mr Shashidhar, an industrialist, who commutes on the Dasarahalli route daily, “The roads form an integral component of good infrastructure. The development of any industry or city depends on infrastructure, especially roads. To achieve this, we need better co-ordination between people, local authority and the government.”

The people and the local administration has a huge communication gap.

For instance, the CMC has a 24-hour grievance redressal helpline (28394909). But not many Dasarahalli residents are aware of it.

Good roads are like a highway to development. The residents of Dasarahalli just hope that good infrastructure does not remain elusive for long.

Any answers?

*Why haven’t the roads been laid for the last 20 years?

*When can we expect a garbage-free road?

*Why make laying of Cauvery pipes an excuse for not tarring the roads?

*Why are the CMCs forever cash-strapped?

*Do suburbs deserve to remain neglected?