Residents in Varthur and Gunjur protest over bad roads

Residents of Varthur and Gunjur staged a peaceful protest on Saturday, demanding pothole-free roads and urgent development of the Varthur–Gunjur stretch, which has become hazardous due to poor maintenance.

The protest was organised in front of Prestige Lakeside Habitat, where residents, including children and senior citizens, stood with placards calling for safer roads. Protestors cited repeated accidents and a recent incident of a school bus breaking down as examples of the civic mess in the area. Their demands include resurfacing of the road, installation of traffic signals and turn-over, and long-term infrastructure upgrades.

Though the protestors did not block traffic, police did not permit residents to gather in large numbers to protest. Citizens said they were only seeking their basic rights to safe roads; however, they were stopped by the police who argued that Freedom Park is the only designated place to protest. 

Residents of the area said they have protested multiple times against poor infrastructure, including dangerous potholes and severe traffic congestion, due to a lack of development that has failed to keep pace with the area’s rapid residential growth.

Pavitra Holla, one of the residents, speaking to The Hindu, said that recently a school bus had nearly toppled due to the bad condition of the road, and sewage was overflowing in the area. She added that senior citizens were unable to walk due to the poor road conditions.

Residents have been told for a long time that the problems would be solved and the roads made pothole-free. Some are trying to link our protest to politics, but it is not political, she said.