Thursday chaos on Viveknagar roads

Thursday chaos on Viveknagar roads

Pilgrims who beeline to Infant Jesus Church leave vehicles on roads ignoring the parking lot inside



COME Thursday, all roads leading to Viveknagar are in a mess. As thousands of devotees make their way to Infant Jesus Church, Viveknagar main road and all cross roads are choc-a-block with traffic. Even the road right in front of the church is blocked by flower and candle sellers and lots of shops.
Pedestrians and motorists face a tough time while moving through this area. Traffic congestion, especially on Thursdays, peaks between 7.30am and 11am, and between 3.30pm and 9pm.
"With only two police constables posted here, it's highly difficult to control the traffic, especially on Thursdays. I request the authorities to appoint more traffic police on this day," says Raj, a traffic police inspector.
"Over the past 12 years, the traffic chaos has not lessened a bit. I wonder when this problem is going to be solved," Linda B, a regular pilgrim to the church, says.
"For pedestrians, there is a footpath but it's filled with beggars and church visitors crowding around push-carts," says Rajesh S, a pedestrian.
'The roads are narrow and every time after they are dug to lay cables or pipelines, authorities don't bother to cover the pits," says Kenneth P, a motorist.
While there is need to post more policemen in this area, residents want the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to remove encroachments on the footpath.
Being a low-lying area, flooding occurs here when it rains.
"Sewage gushes out of open manholes and mixes with rain water raising the water level on the road. Pilgrims find it difficult and risky to thread their way through the traffic to the church. The Viveknagar authorities must take steps for maintenance of the roads. The pavement shops must be cleared for widening the roads," says Denise Baptiste, a student residing in the area.
'The traffic, particularly on Thursdays, is chaotic. Auto drivers go past the sign 'No autos allowed' making the situation even worse," says Ramalinga, a traffic police posted at the Neelsandra entrance.
The church authorities have provided parking facilities at the basement and in front of the church for the visitors. Despite that, pilgrims still park their vehicles on the road in a haphazard way.
On the traffic chaos prevailing in the area, lawmaker of Shanthi Nagar, NA Harris, says "We proposed the widening of the roads six months back. But nothing has been done yet. We can't do much until the plan is approved and executed."