Trench havoc in Cantonment

Trench havoc in Cantonment
BENGALURU







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‘ Barricades cannot be ‘ erected on ‘ Jayamahal Road as it is narrow
For residents of Jayamahal, Cantonment and surrounding areas commuting on Jayamahal Road has become a hell of sorts over the last month due to work on widening the road and providing approach ramps for the Road Under Bride (RUB). The BBMP plans to provide approaches to the Road Under Bridge towards Frazer Town on one side and Jayamahal on the other.

But the absence of footpaths and barricades is exposing pedestrians to the risk of mishaps as BBMP has dug up a huge trench along the road upto the post office.

Complains a businessman, Mukesh R., “Repeated pleas to the BBMP to do something about this have fallen on deaf ears. The work on widening the road and on the RUB got an impetus only after Bengaluru district in-charge ministers R. Ashok and Katta Subra manya Naidu inspected it and directed the authorities to speed it up.” “Why can’t the BBMP and the government act immediately and find a quick solution to such major infrastructure projects? The RUB at Cantonment was completed over two years ago. It's ridiculous that the BBMP is only now trying to provide an approach ramp for it,” says Jyothsna, a homemaker and mother of an 8-year-old, who she is worried about sending on the road due to its condition. Several other parents too are wary about letting their children use this stretch on their way to school fearing they could meet with accidents here.

Vans taking children to school also find it difficult to drive on the road as no barricades have been erected near the dug-up site, which often leads to chaos.

“Some vehicles violate the one-way forcing our van driver to apply sudden brakes which results in some of us being hurt at times,” says Kushal, a 7th standard student.

Other motorists too have a hard time on the road. “Driving a car on Jayamahal Road is a Herculean task. The plight of two wheelers is even worse. Vehicles often screech to a halt or swerve to avoid each other on the road,” says Suranjan Pai, a motorist.

BBMP engineer Mr Krishnamurthy , however, assures all work will be completed on the road by April. He claims it has been delayed due to shifting of utilities by Bescom, BWSSB and the telecommunications department. Shifting of a 66 KV line proved a huge challenge, he says. “We cannot snap this line as it supplies power to Vidhana Soudha, Vikas Soudha, and Rajbhavan. Pipes are now being laid underground to ensure there is no disruption in the power supply,” he adds.

The engineer explains that barricades cannot be erected on Jayamahal Road as the road is already narrow. “The road is being widened to become a 6.75 meters carriage way on either side. It will also have a 5 meters service road. Once the road widening work is done, traffic flow will improve greatly here,” he says.