Bengaluru’s Kanakapura Road: A daily obstacle course of garbage, stench and broken footpaths

Bengaluru: Chief minister DK Shivakumar has the option of travelling through Kanakapura Road in a zero-traffic convoy to reach his home constituency or take the Metro train to exit the city. But for thousands of residents navigating the corridor on foot, the reality is a starkly different one of overflowing garbage, foul odour, encroachments, and hazardous pedestrian infrastructure.The 9.1km stretch between Banashankari and Silk Institute Metro stations, which serves as the gateway to Kanakapura and is one of the most well-connected residential corridors in the city, has turned into an obstacle course of sorts.A Times of India reality check found pedestrians routinely forced to weave their way around mounds of garbage dumped on footpaths, endure the stench emanating from blackspots, and step onto busy carriageways because the footpaths are either encroached, blocked by illegally parked vehicles, or occupied by vendors.

The situation is particularly glaring given the promises made last year to transform the corridor into a model urban stretch at a cost of Rs 100 crore.TOI identified 12 blackspots along the stretch, the most notorious being garbage mounds near Banashankari temple and JP Nagar Metro station, where pedestrian movement is highest. Coconut shells, wet waste, discarded mattresses, bottles, plastic wrappers, worn-out footwear, and other debris dot the busy road, highlighting poor waste management and maintenance.

Footpaths are often unusable because of accumulated waste, forcing commuters, senior citizens, and schoolchildren to share road space with speeding vehicles.For residents, the issue goes beyond aesthetics. The garbage heaps attract stray animals, create unhygienic conditions, and make walking uncomfortable and unsafe. Many argue that despite crores being spent and repeated assurances from civic authorities, the most basic requirement of a walkable city — clean, obstruction-free footpaths — remains elusive.Beyond JP Nagar Metro station, the quality of pedestrian infrastructure deteriorates sharply. Several footpaths narrow to barely accommodate one person, while others are taken over by parked vehicles. Past Vajarahalli Metro station, pavements are uneven with weeds and two-wheelers occupying large portions. Consequently, many pedestrians are forced to walk amid moving traffic. The corridor is also plagued by dust, with road shoulders covered in loose soil and debris.Why do footpaths stink?Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials attribute the stench hanging over footpaths to delay in garbage collection, caused by mismanagement by contractors in three localities. At least 10 of the 29 autos deployed for door-to-door trash collection remain off the road on a daily basis, with contractors citing “frequent breakdowns”.Officials said the issue was reviewed at a recent meeting with an MLA, citizens and volunteers, where contractors were issued a 10-day deadline to improve services.

Citizen volunteers have been tasked with following garbage autos, though their reports are still awaited. On footpath encroachment, officials said vendor cards are being printed and will be used to identify authorised vendors before clearing encroachments.A senior official from Bengaluru South City Corporation said, “We aren’t satisfied with the contractors’ performance. Despite repeated meetings and notices, the issues have not been resolved on the ground.

So far, around 140 blackspots have been identified in south Bengaluru. We are also exploring new contractors, but the process will take time because of tender procedures and limited participation.”Citizens SpeakHamsa Chandrashekara | 34, housewifeI live near Vajarahalli Metro station, and for the past 2-3 months garbage has been dumped about 400m from my home. Every time I pass the spot, the stench is unbearable; it has spread even to the main road. I commute from Malleswaram to Thalaghattapura, and by the time I get home, the smell leaves me exhausted. I’ve complained about it, but no action has been taken so farSanjana L | 19, BCom studentThe road is not well maintained. There’s a lot of garbage on both sides all the time and it is not a good look. Especially during rainy season, the road becomes stinky. The smell gets so bad I have to shut the windows of the vehicle while travellingTN Sumaprasad | 43, school principalThe bad smell from garbage is a major problem here, and diseases can spread easily. I think it’s high time the govt came up with different initiatives to fix the issue. Alternatively, they should impose a penalty/punishment for littering. Maybe that could be the solutionN Radhakrishnaiah | 75, residentThis is one of the worst roads, with so much garbage and damage. There are many sacks and plastic covers all over the road, and a lot of dust that arises from the empty spaces. It gets very difficult for old people like us to travel here