Chaos reigns on Adugodi Road

Chaos reigns on Adugodi Road

July 10th, 2009
By Our Correspondent

Bengaluru
July 9: Adugodi Road, with an array of goodies, from trinkets to furniture, laid out on either side of the bustling thoroughfare, was a one-stop destination for city shoppers. These days, however, the road, especially the stretch between Forum Mall and Star Bazar, has become so congested that walking, let alone shopping, has become a strenuous affair.
Pedestrians have only two options while walking along this stretch of road — walk in the pits dug on the pavement or on the road itself, both not enticing prospects. Twisted and sprained legs are common complaints of those familiar with the road. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike dug up the footpath a couple of months ago but has not provided an alternate route till the work is completed.
“It’s impossible to walk on the footpath, so people prefer to risk their lives walking on the congested roads. The traffic inflow is heavy in the area, especially near Forum Mall. The lack of a pavement gives a hard time to shoppers who would want to walk towards Star Bazar on Adugodi Road,” said Kamal Murthy, a shopper at Forum Mall. “To add to the problem, footpaths are encroached upon by vendors and petty shops. The authorities must repair the pavements to prevent mishaps in this congested locality.”
Autorickshaws parked haphazardly on Koramangala Road also add to the pedestrians’ woes. It isn’t easy for motorists either, with many complaining that pedestrians on the road obstruct the movement of vehicles. “Adugodi Road and Koramangala Main Road junction are among the busiest localities in the city during peak hours and, with pedestrians walking on the road due to the lack of a pavement, it becomes impossible for motorists to ride or drive through,” said Ram Singhal, a motorist, who frequently passes through the area. “It is not only dangerous for people to run in between heavy traffic, it is hard for motorists too.”
Even mild rains are enough for the dug pavements to fill up with water and flood the road.
Motorists unfamiliar with the road find it difficult to manoeuvre on the road. Since the pits are hidden from view, there is a high risk of accidents.
A BBMP engineer in South Zone claimed that the pavements had been dug up by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) only about 15 days ago for the laying of sanitary pipes and BBMP was not to be blamed for the chaos on Adugodi Road.
“We have received complaints but it is the BWSSB that has to mend the pavement. After the BWSSB lays the pipes, BBMP will repair the footpaths,” the engineer said.