Uttarahalli develops, but not the roads

Mr CM are you listening?
Uttarahalli develops, but not the roads
Deccan Herald

Rapid development without proper planning and infrastructure has made life miserable for residents and commuters around Uttarahalli Main Road. As the city expands, its outskirts bear the brunt of poor planning. Bad roads, improper drainage, poor garbage management and lack of space for road expansion are primary complaints. Once an obscure road that linked Kengeri to the city, the Uttarahalli Main Road, on the Padmanabhanagar side (close to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s house), is fast becoming a large residential and commercial area.

Consequently, small, rural roads are now housing large apartment blocks, schools and commercial complexes. They are unable to take the load of school buses, lorries laden with construction goods and BMTC buses that ply all day. The roads are half-tarred, potholes abound, and traffic jams during peak hours are regular. "Six months ago when a politician was supposed to pass by this area, authorities started repairing the road. When his visit got cancelled, they left it mid-way," says Anil Patel, a wood merchant in Uttarahalli, pointing to the half-laid road.

Low real estate prices have resulted in intense construction activity around the area and with it, movement of trucks carrying construction material have increased. The narrow, congested lanes cannot take the volume. "I refuse to let my 15-year-old son ride a vehicle on the road. The heavy traffic and bumpy roads make it unsafe," says Poornima Nair, a housewife.

Schools in the area have imposed punishment on students who leave the school premises without permission from teachers. Some schools have had to employ watchmen to help their students cross roads, as there are few traffic policemen in the area. The Prarthana School junction is one such bottleneck that needs a traffic signal or at least a policeman, during peak hours, residents point out.

The state of the roads is worse during the monsoon. All the loose mud on the road turns to slush and the potholes get covered by muddy water, making the roads dangerous for pedestrians and riders.

Residents say that when it rains, the clogged drains overflow and the dirty water comes on to the roads, raising not just a stink, but hygiene issues too. Most homes rely on septic tanks as there is no proper sewage system in the area. Mosquitoes abound, also thanks to the uncleared garbage in the area. The surrounding lakes are used as repositories for sewage from different parts of the city, and garbage from the area. Locals living near Doraikere Lake recall the lake to be a large water body with water fit for consumption. Now, it is nothing more than a dumping ground.

Despite these problems, the area continues to expand. Low prices in the area and congestion elsewhere in the city has attracted more people to the area, setting off a vicious cycle.

Any answers?

*Why are basic civic amenities like drainage and roads not put in place?

*Why can't the movement of heavy vehicles be restricted to a few hours in the day?

*Why isn’t there a proper garbage collection system?

*Why is so much of construction work being allowed along narrow roads?