Footpath? my foot...

Footpath? my foot...


Express News Service
First Published : 16 Oct 2008 06:27:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 16 Oct 2008 08:07:29 AM IST

BANGALORE: Badly-maintained roads riddled with potholes, pavements that start and end abruptly.

And on top of that, open manholes where one would least expect it.

With all these features, using roads in the city has become nothing short of a horror tale. And if you thought riding through the city is tough, spare a thought for the pedestrian.

While vehicles jostle for space, pedestrians are seen jumping from one slab of the footpath to the next or on to the dividers and even the roads to make their way. The lack of proper footpaths hits the pedestrian hardest during peak hours or when it rains, pushing them to chaotic situations that sometimes lead to accidents.

A few of the high frequency accident spots are the Bannerghatta Road, Kanakpura Road, HMC Road and K G Halli Road.

“It would be better if the authorities paint the humps that come up all of a sudden on the existing bad roads,” said Sridharappa, a senior citizen and resident of Malleswaram.

One can find certain maintenance lapses like damaged walls, broken railings, damaged joints of iron railings on flyovers too.

Several interior roads are no better. “The authorities have to initiate measures for the safety of the pedestrians and provide raised and wider footpaths and pedestrian over-bridges. The lack of signals at pedestrian crossings, zebra crossings should be rectified,” said Jeevan P L, a resident of Shivajinagar.

Open manholes

Manholes in several areas are kept open, especially during the rainy season, posing danger for the road users and pedestrians.

BWSSB officials claim that none of the manholes are kept open and that iron frames and covers are provided for heavy traffic roads and on small lanes with less traffic they are covered with RCC frames and covers.

“I am always on the lookout for manholes when I walk on the road, especially when it rains. I have seen vehicle tyres getting stuck inside and it takes hours to bring them back on the road. It is difficult to walk on the road with so much waterlogging on the edges close to the pavements,” said Lolita R, a student.