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“When it rains heavily, this road looks like a stream. Due to flooding, vehicles slow down and that leads to traffic jams. It has also become a daily affair for us to help commuters when they fall down from bike due to bad road consitions,” said Syed Ansari, a resident, pointing to the Medahalli Main Road.
On the one side, the road has sunk in, and the other part of the road has no tar but sand and gravel.
The condition of Thubarahalli Village Road in Whitefield, Manjunatha Layout, Silver Spring Layout Road and Munnekolala underpass junction that connects Marathahalli are all in a similar state. A majority of these roads lead to the IT corridor.
Riding on Thubarahalli Village Road is a nightmare as the bad stretch continues for at least two km. It connects to Old Madras Road, Devarabeesanahalli and Munnekollal road.
Parthasarthi M., a resident staying close to Thubarahalli Village Road, said, “It has been in a bad condition for a long time now. We have complained to several officials, politicians and have also organised a protest. It hasn’t yielded any results so far. Rains make it worse with overflowing drains.”
The situation is no different in Manjunatha Layout and Silver Spring Layout roads that have apartments on either side of the roads.
Sumana Choudhury, a resident, said, “It is dangerous to step out during rains. I restrict my children from walking out alone.” She also highlighted that school buses irrespective of their size often get stuck in these potholes.
Similarly, the entire road in Munnekolala underpass junction appears like it has not been repaired for many years.
A traffic policeman working in this jurisdiction, on the condition of anonymity, admitted that when it rains, a lot of cars get stuck, and it leads to traffic jams. “When we go to their rescue and help them, people are angry and start hurling abuses at us for bad roads.”
The bad condition of some of these roads in East Bengaluru is also tied to legal and jurisdictional issues.
Road on SWD
Explaining about the Thubarahalli Village Road issue, Uday Chougule, Executive Engineer, Mahadevapura, Bengaluru East Corporation , said, “We have no rights to lay road because it is a stormwater drain (SWD). Another department looks into the SWD issues. However, in the larger interest of public, the corporation has plans to build a box-type drain and lay huge slabs on it to facilitate the traffic on the surface.”
No compensation
There is an unresolved issue of compensation for Madehalli Main Road.
Ghori Saab, a resident, said the government acquired land for the construction of Medahalli Main Road in 2008-09 from a few residents.
“They promised to pay us compensation, but did not . Every year, when the public complains of bad roads, officials come here for inspection. We ask them to pay our compensation and they never return,” he said.
Sachin Appugol, Assistant Engineer, Basavanapura Ward, said, “Earlier, Medahalli road was under Major roads . After formation of the GBA and five corporations, this road has come under ward roads. We know that some people who gave up their land have to be compensated and the file is with Transferrable Development Rights Services Department. Once they clear it, compensation can be paid to them, and the road can be also laid.”
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