Namma Metro equals to thumba headache

Namma Metro equals to thumba headache
By: Chetan R Date: 2009-07-15 Place:Bangalore



Some Indiranagar residents are so fed up with all the mess that they plan not to vote during the BBMP polls. They say residents even risk lives because ambulances can't make their way to the address on time through the rubble

Residents of CMH Road are planning to boycott the BBMP polls because they have had enough of the Metro mess.

The Namma Metro work along a 1-km stretch on CMH Road has so far displaced over 60 per cent of the 1,500 shops and hasn't spared residents and commuters either.



METRO BLUES: The metro work on CMH Road has displaced over 60 per cent of the 1,500 shops file pic

Despite repeated complaints, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) hasn't responded. Affected residents and shopkeepers have already registered their anger by not voting in the parliamentary elections. And now, they plan to do the same during the BBMP polls.

"The work is literally ruining our lives. Why should we vote when nobody is listening to us," said Ram Mohan N S, a medical shopowner.

Metro mess

Residents claim that BMRCL's unscientific methods have turned CMH Road into an unsafe stretch.

"Debris and construction material are dumped on the roads and left unattended," said A Dinakaran, a resident.

As a result, several parts of the road connecting Ulsoor to Jeevan Bima Nagar, Thippasandra and K R Puram have been blocked.

"We are so badly affected that recently, a resident suffering from Parkinson's disease couldn't get treatment on time as the ambulance couldn't reach the place," said Dinakaran.

"Nobody has responded to our woes so far," added Ram Mohan. "Our public representatives have not answered our calls either. So, we will not vote during the BBMP elections."

'Not our problem'

Ask BMRCL and watch the buck pass.

"Our work hasn't caused any inconvenience to people there," said Yashwant Chauhan, public relations officer, BMRCL.

"The problems may be because of other utility service providers like Bescom or BBMP."