Barbed wire irks road users

Barbed wire irks road users

Staff Reporter
— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

KEEP DISTANCE OR…: Barbed wire fence on a stretch of Queen’s Road abutting the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is a hazard for two-wheeler riders.
Bangalore: The Horticulture Department of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has come up with an unusual way to guard the floral plants on Queen’s Road.

For three days, the Horticulture Department has been putting up barbed-wire fence on the stretch between CTO Circle and Mahatma Gandhi Statue abutting the cricket stadium, which has become a nuisance. Several two-wheeler riders have suffered minor bruises when they brushed past the barbed wire and some of them had to be treated in a hospital.

A few years ago a median was laid on the road and the Horticulture Department had planted saplings. Now to guard the plants, the department was putting up barbed-wire fence, said a senior officer of the BBMP.

But the fence has been causing problems for two-wheeler riders.

The stretch lacks adequate lighting, said Chaya Shanubhoganahalli, a software engineer. She and her brother, who were riding a two-wheeler, sustained minor injuries on Tuesday night when they brushed against the fencing in front of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“BBMP officials did not contact us before putting up the fence,” said an officer of the Central Traffic Sub-Division. “We will discuss the issue with the officials concerned and request them to take action,” said Srinivas, Inspector of Police, Cubbon Park traffic police.

Jogi Siddegowda, BBMP Executive Engineer, Vidhana Soudha Division, said: “I will discuss the matter with the Horticulture Department and will take the initiative to remove the barbed-wire fencing by Thursday evening.”