BLOOD ON THE STREET

BLOOD ON THE STREET
How Safe Are Our Footpaths? And Our Roads? Indiranagar Road Mayhem Has Once Again Brought Into Focus The Need To Formulate
PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY POLICIES
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

A walk away from home
Bangalore: “My father and I started the morning walk together today. He joined his walking group and went towards ESI, and I walked towards Domlur,’’ said C Prakash, son of Kempe Gowda who was one of the three walkers mowed down by a killer car. In the hour of grief, the four victims’ families stood shoulder to shoulder as the bodies were shifted to Bowring Hospital for post-mortem.
Poongadi, wife of cyclist Radhakrishna, a security guard with an apartment, was inconsolable. Her friends and neighbours were taking care of her at the hospital. Her two children are in their native Undripet in Tamil Nadu.
Several friends and well-wishers of Dr Ramanath Panathur, another victim, visited the hospital. Kadiresh, a friend, said the doctor was very particular about his morning walk. Dr Panathur’s wife Lalitha did not wish to speak anyone.
Dr Shivaprasad Reddy, brother-in-law of K Kodandarama Reddy who survived the accident and had to undergo a surgery for the left leg fracture, said Reddy told them he saw the car with headlights on. Though he tried to jump off the car’s way, his left leg got hit.
Kodandarama Reddy would leave home every day around 5.15 am for his walk. Then he would meet his walking group in front of a playground near Indiranagar Club. “Then all of them would walk till ESI Hospital, have a cup of coffee and then return home,” Dr Shivaprasad Reddy added.
PRIMER ON
INDIRANAGAR
Indiranagar, 4 km from MG Road, is an important residential and commercial hub
CMH ROAD: Home to supermarkets, appliances and textile showrooms, and restaurants
100-FT ROAD: Connects Airport Road and Old Madras Road. Best address for lifestyle showrooms and cafes. Has a bit of Old Bangalore too: A small, but affluent defence enclave with its large bungalows and boulevards
TRUE HUBBUB: Many small and medium companies have set shop. Old houses giving way to apartments and shops, particularly on the eastern portion of CMH Road between 80 and 100 feet roads
METRO RAIL: A new facet. Work started in July 2008, expected to be completed by 2010

SURVIVOR’S TALE
“It happened in a split second. Even before I could realise what happened, everything was over,’’ said Kodandarama Reddy, the lone survivor of Saturday’s
road mayhem. Reddy, who underwent a surgery, said he was walking ahead of the three. “As we heard a loud noise, we turned and saw. We realised that the car took a left turn and was coming on to the footpath. Even before we could realise what happened, it had hit me. I fell down. I don’t know what happened after that.’’


ELDERS S PEAK UP


Both walkers and riders must take precaution. Strict action should be taken
against people who drive madly. Morning walk is the only time when we socialize. In the West, some roads are dedicated to walkers from 6 am to 8 am. Awareness campaigns are a must.
Sudhakar Varanasi | 57


Morning walkers should prefer not to go beyond the limited footpaths. Vehicles should never climb on to pavements. Elders should be more cautious while going for walk.
B N Dey| 68


City needs a pedestrian crosswalk. Administrators
should be more responsible. Pavement is meant for pedestrians. If pavements are not safe, then we are safe nowhere.
Ivan Yates | 58


Pedestrians are following traffic rules, but not riders.
I’ve been here for nine years, and the traffic problem and accidents scare me. After the accident, it’s safe to go for a walk in parks than on roads
Pramod Mishra | 64