Motorists, Pedestrians Never Feel Safe On Davis Road

Motorists, Pedestrians Never Feel Safe On Davis Road
Aarthi R | TNN

Bangalore: There is clear and present danger right in the middle of the road! Yet nothing has been done. One visit to Davis Road near Fraser Town, and one can smell the steady degradation of what was once a wide, comfortable road.
With monsoon fast approaching and many schools in the area opening on Monday, residents are unsure whether the situation will improve at all.
The stretch is hardly a kilometre away from Fraser Town police station. Also, a storm water drain into which a two-wheeler rider fell and died on Thursday night, is nearby. There are many open drains in the area and several roads have caved in. Angry residents say such is the state of things in almost every part on this stretch.
To make matters worse, there’s an overflowing manhole, with lids loosely placed on them. Accidents are bound to happen when speeding vehicles ply on them.
Fallen trees have occupied the roadside and the authorities have not bothered to clear them. As if this was not enough, the sidewalk was half-repaired and drain work that started three months ago, was abandoned. This shoddy work has exposed much of the stinking water flowing beneath. And, last but not the least, there’s no space to walk too.
“The work seems to be going on and on,” a resident complains. “Also, new slabs were built and dried on the roadside, which has narrowed the space.”
Another resident, Zaffar Sait, says diseases are threatening residents here. “And we only talk about stagnant drains in D J Halli. Well, if this doesn’t trigger deadly diseases, we will be lucky,” he says. “I’m living in this area since 1955.”
He points to an open drain by the roadside. It was once a storm water drain with clean water. Now, stinking sewage has overflowed and occupied roadspace. With no barricade to indicate ‘work in progress’, motorists may get hurt while driving there at night.
For many old-timers, the situation is equivalent to a disaster. “This place was once cleaner, safer and greener,” says Jane Reay, 80, who is seeing the area transform from bad to worse for almost 79 years. She talks about the time when her kids played by the drain and more trees grew. “But all that is past now,” she says sadly.
According to residents, the area started degenerating 15 years ago. A storm water drain that ran through private land was diverted to narrow pipes at the roadside. This was done to clear the land for construction of apartments. Over the years, many old bungalows here have been converted into apartments — every apartment increasing the pressure on the underground sewer system. With no response from the BBMP and BWSSB, residents are desperate for a way out before monsoon arrives in full force.
TAKE CARE
There are many open drains on Davis Road near Fraser Town A two-wheeler rider died on Thursday night after falling into an open drain here It’s unsafe for children to play in this area Residents say no part of the road is safe for driving or walking
FROM BAD TO WORSE A storm water drain was diverted to many narrow pipes This drain used to run through a private land, which was then used to build apartments BWSSB and BBMP have not replied despite complaints Residents run the risk of contracting serious diseases