Traders' lives derailed

Traders' lives derailed

Slow pace of Metro work hits business and life on CMH Road

Senthalir S. Bangalore



Traders on Chinmaya Mission Hospital (CMH) Road are angry and frustrated as business has crashed due to the slow progress of Metro work in Reach I (Byappanhalli-Cricket Stadium).
Imtiaz Ahmed, who runs a footwear shop on the road, said "I used to earn Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 per day. After the commencement of the Metro work, I am earning only Rs2,500."
The bad condition of the roads has added to the misery of traders.
"The civic authorities are reluctant to do their work. All the sewerage lines are broken. The wells and sumps are contaminated. No one is taking any responsibility. The roads are unmotorable. People fear to tread here. How can we do business and maintain our families?" Imtiaz said. The CMH Road houses at least 1,500 shops. While many traders are reluctant to start business on this stretch, those who are already running shops face untold hardships.
"Productivity level has gone down drastically. Earlier, I had employed 22 people. Now I can afford to keep only 17. I am in a difficult position. I cannot hire more people. The slow pace of Metro work is indirectly affecting families as many breadwinners have lost their jobs," said Mohamed Azam, managing partner with JSR Communications and Services.
The government had failed to keep a check on the progress of the Metro work, he said. "If only the retail outlets earn Rs600 per sq ft gross margin revenue every month, they can make a profit. We are getting only Rs120-130 per sq ft. Even the government is losing revenue on CMH Road," Azam said.
Dinakar Kosalram, a resident of CMH Road, said care should be taken to maintain the basic infrastructure. Instead of setting it right, the civic authorities were engaged in a blame game, he said.
"We have filed several complaints with regard to the bad roads and sewerage system but no one seems to be bothered," he said.
"We requested the representatives of civic agencies to visit the place. But for the PR official from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), no one has turned up so far," Imtiaz said.
A BMRCL official, who did not want to be identified, blamed the Bangalore Water Supply Board (BWSSB) and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike for bad maintenance of infrastrucuture.
"It is the work of BWSSB to maintain the sewerage system and not our responsibility," he said.ALL DUG UP: Pedestrians fear to tread on the CMH Road as it has been dug up at various points. Despite complaints from traders and residents, no remedial action have been taken so far