Craters and stones can hurt their bones

Craters and stones can hurt their bones

Residents of Canara Bank Layout in Kodigehalli have to take a bumpy ride every time they venture out of their homes as the approach road to the layout is a bad patch of 200-feet long. Rain or sunshine, this road has been the bane of the residents as they have to use it to connect with the outer world.
Since the first residents settled in the layout in 2001, the road has been in a sorry state.
VR Gaikwad, Secretary, Canara Bank Layout Residents' Welfare Association, says: "Actually, it is not a road. That patch is a private property. However, it has been used as an approach road from the very beginning."
Gaikwad says that the owners of the property had proposed to give about 20-feet area for the construction of the road but "demanded compensation on present day rates."
The road is used by people from adjoining townships such as Virupakshapura, Indian Express Layout, Dhanalakshmi Layout. There are several apartments that are being developed in the area and those residents too would be using this approach road very soon.
Health issues
Residents have been using this untarred stretch for over eight years and some of them even had to suffer severe health problems.
SC Vaishist, a retired banker and resident, says: "When riding the scooter one has to be firm on the handle as the road is uneven. This usually affects the shoulder and back. The jolts suffered during the ride have given many residents severe back problems." The unevenness of the stretch is increased every time construction debris is thrown there. Residents pointed out that over the years the rubble has been thrown on the road to increase the height as well as level it. Inadvertently, this has left huge caters in the area and sharp protruding stones pose a threat to motorists.
DNA reporter who rode to the place found out that the residents had good reason to be upset with the state of the road. It is difficult to avoid the craters and the pointed stones make it impossible to speed without risking a skid.
Virupakshi Mysore, joint commissioner, BBMP, when contacted by DNA said: "The road has been in use for long." He added that the woes of the residents will be solved once GKVK Road gets ready. Apart from the residents, there are organisations such as National Centre for Biological Studies (NCBS), Soil Survey of India (SSI) and India Population Project Hospital (IPPH) whose employees are dependent on this approach road.
Overcharging Autos
Since the approach road is in terrible shape, auto-rickshaw drivers refuse to come into the layout. Or if they come at all, they charge exorbitant rates for a bumpy ride. A ride from Kodigehalli Gate to the layout can cost anywhere between Rs40 to Rs50, and the distance is only about three kilometres.