It appears like a giant swimming pool outside the 10-acre Swabhimaana Tree Park in Sector 3, HSR Layout. Despite alerting the BDA and now the BBMP about the lack of a pipeline to carry the water on 15th B Main Road into the stormwater drain, the authorities are turning a blind eye.
In addition, the parking space along the boundary of the park is uneven, slushy and a nuisance at best. In addition, the construction of an arch over the major storm water drain running along the boundary of the park has resulted in a bottleneck at 19th Cross-15th B Main. The landscaped garden on both sides of the entry gate have eaten up the drain and footpath space, further congesting the road. It’s time to demolish the landscaped garden and decongest this junction that is at its worst on weekends, with two wheelers parked helter-skelter around this nodal point.
The parking space needs to be sloped in such a way that the rain water enters the drain and not stagnate on the road and footpath. Similarly, the water from the park is coming on to the footpath, when it should go straight into the drain. Clearly, the work of the BDA was unscientific. In addition, there are no lights in the children’s play area. And more sand needs to be applied in the space as it’s way too less.
All of this is something that the BBMP or the BDA can do in a jiffy, but the authorities are simply prolonging the issue for no reason. The residents are upset and urge the new BBMP Joint Commissioner of Bommanahalli to take prompt action.
The Shell petrol bunk on 18th Main, Sector 3, HSR Layout
More than eight months ago, we wrote that the Shell petrol bunk in HSR Layout, Sector 3, was stopped by the BBMP due to complaints from the residents. However, the BBMP officials at the time said that the bunk owners had taken most permissions, barring one permission from the Town Planning department. However, sources in the BBMP tell us that the permission might never come as the BBMP officials have denied it due to the location of the petrol bunk as it is inside a residential area which also has a hospital behind it.
More than a year ago, when the Shell petrol bunk began work even without taking all the adequate permissions, the residents went to the Sector 3 Residents Welfare Association. The association wrote to the BBMP and the HSR Federation, compelling the BBMP officials to take prompt action. Later, the Sector 3 association had a change of heart and wanted the petrol bunk to come up in the area. But by then, it was too late. The town planning officials visited the spot and after their complete enquiry realised that the residents were indeed right and this was not a suitable place for a petrol bunk. The verdict as of today, therefore, is that the petrol bunk might never come.
However, if there are any more updates, watch this space.
The absense of illegal speedbreakers, and the absence of white stripes on both legal and illegal humps across Bengaluru is a nightmare to vehicle users, particularly at night. And this happens on ultra-busy thoroughfares like Outer Ring Road. While the Traffic Engineering (TEC) department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanaragara Palike (BBMP) blamed the lack of funds earlier, now they are promising to paint the stripes after they are done with zebra crossings at major intersections across the city.
“We will finish the work within 15 days in all the arterial and sub arterial roads,” says Praveen Lingaiah, Executive Engineer (TEC), BBMP. “We are in touch with the traffic police, and will fix the speedbreakers whose stripes have also worn off due to the rains.”
Regarding speedbreakers on 30 feet roads in residential areas, Praveen clarified that they are not taken up by the TEC. “You have to check the department that laid the road as they are responsible for painting the speedbreakers… we are only involved with high density corridors and roads that are usually bus routes. We are also not responsible for fixing illegal speedbreakers as those are generally done by the residents themselves in an unscientific manner that is more dangerous than beneficial.”
According to BBMP officials, many speedbreakers requested by the residents are uncalled for. “Just because there is one accident, the residents demand a speedbreaker,” said one official. “This is quite dangerous, particularly on busy roads as that will lead to traffic slowdown.”
The officials also pointed out that the speedbreakers that lack the white stripes are usually not done by the BBMP, and even if they are, the rains usually play spoilsport. “These speedbreakers are back-breaking,” said one BBMP official himself. “But the lack of proper funds and supervision, and the lackadaisical attitude of TEC officials are responsible for the current mess. The residents and the media have to continue pressuring the BBMP to take action.”
When BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar was apprised of the matter, he said the aggrieved citizens should file a formal complaint on the BBMP Sahaya app with the right geo-location. However, the residents complain that most of their online requests don’t get resolved, and dubbed the app as a major sham. Therefore, we hope that this media report should galvanise the authorities to prioritise the demolition of illegal speedbreakers, paint the legal humps, and erect speedbreakers where required.
November 10 is the deadline for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to rid the city of potholes, and there are about 15,000 of them, according to the civic agency’s estimates.
Thanks to a Karnataka High Court order a while ago, the BBMP had fixed many potholes in HSR Layout, Indiranagar, Koramangala, Whitefield and other neighbourhoods of Bangalore. However, those very roads and a few others have developed craters again. Either the rains are too harsh or the work was sub-standard.
For reasons of transparency in public works, the BBMP also put up its report on potholes in the public domain. This was again due to the order of the High Court. However, if you view them today, you will realise that Bengaluru neighbourhoods are relatively pothole-free. Only certain roads are marked for ‘road resurfacing required’. The others are spotlessly clean, according to the civic officials. When we accessed this BBMP link again, that page had vanished into a pothole too. The pothole page did not exist anymore. It could be resuscitated anytime, so we have attached the link for you to check it later.
The rains played spoilsport again, and the roads have thrown up the ugly truth about BBMP contractors and the shoddy way they work. Then again, it’s the corrupt system. How can a road contractor win a tender at the lowest sum possible, and then remit a portion of it towards bribes to different people, and work with the remaining amount and still make a profit? That’s the crorepati question no one wants to answer. The last time, one political party tried to answer that is today confined to just one metro and trying to deal with the ‘world’s most polluted capital’ moniker.
And yes, if you have injured yourself due to a pothole, the Karnataka High Court has ruled that you can directly approach the BBMP for compensation.
So how can you help, dear reader? Just download the BBMP Sahaaya app and upload pictures of gaping potholes with the exact coordinates. In addition, WhatsApp us (+919880585748) as well. If they stand out from the rest, we will even dedicate a story on the ‘most potholed roads’ in your neighbourhood.
In addition, you can contact BBMP and the BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar (Facebook & Twitter) in the following ways:
The residents are fed up of the immoral, greedy and illiterate politicians hogging the landscape and want to do something. They want to nominate people within their areas who are doing great work selflessly to become their next corporator and MLA. That is the only way things can get done in a systematic way, according to them. Towards this end, many such pan-Bangalore organisations are coming together in Bengaluru and HSR Layout, like the Bangalore Apartments’ Federation (BAF), Citizens Action Forum (CAF), Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), Whitefield Rising, and Pothole Raja, among others.
The underlying idea is that the city’s infrastructure and civic amenities are being improved in tandem with the rapid growth of the city. The system is broken and no political party has the right people, particularly the corporators, who can make their wards the perfect models for the rest of the country.
If you have it in you or want to support such selfless individuals from within your area/ward/region, don’t miss this evening’s event in HSR Layout. It could change your life.
“We have decided that enough is enough and want to bring good people to contest elections and participate in governance!” says the collective’s press release. “
WHEN AND WHERE?
The meeting is at 4.30pm today (Nov 2), at the Club House of Nagarjuna Greenridge Apartment off 19th Main in Sector 2, HSR Layout. Attending this meetup will not only give you a detailed perspective on what the collective organisations have in mind, but also helps you choose the best candidates and manifesto for the HSR Layout ward.
Be there, if you want to make a difference. If you don’t want to stand for elections, you can support the right candidate monetarily or otherwise. If nothing else, you will understand how activism and electioneering works. It’s a good crash course in developing a civic conscience.
Mountaineers and environmentalists Kavitha Reddy and Jigna Modh
Walk, run, and cycle for the constitution. Two city mountaineers and environmentalists, Kavitha Reddy and Jigna Modh, are calling everyone to join them in their ‘Yatra for Constitution’. The idea is to not only commemorate 70 years of the constitution’s existence but also to ensure that it’s sanctity is maintained. The Bengaluru to Bidar journey of 700 kilometres will cover 10 districts in 16 days. The flag off is on November 26 at 7am from HSR Layout. The funds raised during this initiative will go towards the conservation of lakes and the environment through the NGO, Kaagaz Foundation. Anyone from Karnataka can join this yatra.
For both these residents, it’s a journey of a lifetime. “November 26, 1949 is when India got its constitution penned by Dr BR Ambedkar,” says Jigna Modh. “It’s time to reaffirm our faith in it and stay committed to the holy book that we the people of India have adopted.”
The yatra’s agenda is make this aware to citizens, especially youngsters about the fundamental rights and duties that the constitution has bestowed on us and the need to stay committed to it and celebrate it.
“As our commitment to Article 51A (g), we are raising funds for the conservation of lakes and the environment,” says Reddy. “This is a self-funded journey, therefore all the funds we raise will go to the cause we are working for, and additionally will plant a sapling enroute for every Rs 1000 we raise.”
Their goal is to raise over Rs 10 lakh. If we believe in the cause, you can donate right now and help them with their journey in spirit. About 15 people have already confirmed their participation. People will join the yatra and leave as they see fit. At various places, an event will be organised by NGOs. The organisers are expecting about 50-60 people to be part of their journey, even if they are not with them from start to finish. Importantly, whoever joins them can raise funds for their own causes that align with Article 51A (g) of the constitution.
Most accident-prone roads of HSR Layout. Well, actually, most happen to be junctions as people from different ends are always in a hurry to get from Point A to Point B. The result is an unfortunate accident. Which is why, a former traffic inspector in HSR Layout prevented these frequent head-on and side collisions by creating deviations.
We are talking about three killer junctions: The 17th Cross-24th main junction, 22nd Cross-19th Main junction and the 17th Cross-19th Main junction. Some residents loved the idea and the others didn’t. Some riders, allegedly under the influence of some stimulant broke the median several times at Nandini Cooljoint junction (which itself is illegal, by the way). Most of these run-ins happened late into the night. To cut a long story short, the deviations remained, and have been so for over a year now. Unfortunately, there are people who violate the one-way rules, but most behave because they can’t get into one-ways when there is oncoming traffic.
Have the number of accidents come down because of this? Yes, definitely, atleast at these junctions. But elsewhere, the killers are still free. And they happen to be motorcycle users, bus drivers, auto drivers and the very famous water tanker drivers.
The other killer roads/junctions are as follows:
9th Main-Outer Ring Road (ORR) Junction
The other day, a biker injured a pedestrian who was trying to crossover from the HSR side of ORR to the other. The way to cross any busy road is actually simple, but people either lack patience or don’t know how signals work. You just have to wait till the vehicle users are almost nil on either side before you cross the road. Does this really happen? Yes, it does. When the signals go red on either side. Just try it the next time you are crossing any road, big or small. Just don’t try to squeeze through vehicles because someone behind such vehicles might not see you suddenly coming into view and hitting you head-on. Crossing here is still a nightmare for some, and therefore, a skywalk was being constructed before the IMA scam surfaced and the work is back to square one. The reasoning? IMA was the major sponsor of the skywalk. Who should answer to this? Both the MLAs: Ramalinga Reddy of BTM constituency because one side of the road belongs to him, and he inaugurated the skywalk. Sathish Reddy of Bommanahalli constituency as the other side of the road belongs to him, and he inaugurated the skywalk before R Reddy.
5th Main-ORR Junction
Be very careful out here, whether you are a pedestrian or a two-wheeler rider. Many accidents have taken place at this junction and near this junction. People have been injured grievously and some have even died due to collisions both from front and back.
ORR-BMTC Bus Depot Junction
Many accidents have happened here, on both sides of ORR. The other day, a speeding BMTC bus hit a rider from behind and caused him severe head injuries. Many have died on their way to the hospitals after an accident at this junction.
19th Main-ORR Petrol Bunk Junction
The other day, a bike rider was hit by a rash auto driver when he turned the wrong way without warning. Some time ago, one elderly bus passenger died at this junction on ORR when the BMTC bus driver hit the breaks and caused her to lunge forward. Her chest had hit the metal bar in front of her as she was suddenly pushed forward due to inertia.
5th Main-17th Cross Junction
Many accidents have occurred when fast moving vehicles try to get on from both sides of this road. Though most of the injuries were not grievous, this is yet another junction that both riders and pedestrians should be careful about.
What Should You Do To Avoid Becoming A Statistic?
The cops suggest that the pedestrians should try and use as much of the footpaths as possible.
And when there are no footpaths, they should stick to the edge of the road. Importantly, always walk on the right side of a busy road, so you can see oncoming traffic. If you are a rider, always go slow at any junction. Think there are speeding vehicles coming from all sides at the junction. Slow down, it will save your life and your parents will bless us for saving your life with just this one tip.
Many on ORR have happened at late nights and early mornings. This is the time when people ride rashly. Some are drunk drivers and some are half-asleep. Therefore, whenever you step out to walk, jog or ride and drive, watch every direction before crossing the junction. No traffic does not mean a speeding rash driver will not make a sudden appearance.
File photo of a CCTV grab involving chain snatchers
Despite repeated police and media warnings, some people are still falling prey to thieves every other day. Either the women are completely unaware that there are chain snatchers around or they believe that such incidents happen only to others, not them.
This chain snatching incident occurred on October 17 at around 8.15pm near Swathi restaurant, opposite Elm montessori school in Sector 5. Sixty-year-old Molly Mathew finished her work at a gift shop in Bellandur, hopped on to a bus and got down at HSR Layout BDA Complex flyover. While she was walking towards her home in Venkatapura, two bike-borne thieves on a black pulsar snatched her 64-gram gold chain. The chain is valued at Rs 2.6 lakh.
The issue is not really about the precious ornament; it’s about human lives. The other day, in another part of the country, a woman walking on a busy road was dragged on to the busy road when two bike-borne thieves pulled her gold chain. She was run over by the vehicles coming from behind her.
In this case, the cops have registered a case of robbery that carries a jail term of up to ten years and may also be fined. The police officials request the residents to stop wearing precious jewellery or hiding them from common view. They can always wear fake mangalsutras, and we know so many women who do. And always try to use the footpaths, or stay close to them when you are walking on roads to avoid a mishap.
237/A , 23rd Cross, 17th A Main, Sector 3, HSR LayoutThis is the third time, house 237/A is flooded this monthMLA Sathish Reddy (and HSR Federation chairman HE Chandrashekar (extreme right)
HSR Layout’s low-lying areas in Sector 2 and 3 were flooded due to last night’s heavy rains. All the food delivery services stopped accepting orders after 8pm due to the rains, affecting several residents who were dependent on outside food. Stepping out was particularly a problem for the residents in certain areas of Sector 2 and 3 as water was knee-deep. What’s worse was that the rainwater entered the homes of many in Sector 3 due to this unplanned development by the BBMP that has not desilted the drains for over a decade. The BBMP officials are only raising the heights of drains, but not desilting, which is an object lack of foresight.
Civic officials and MLA did rush to the place last night to ascertain the situation, and again this morning. The desilting work is to begin immediately in Sector 2 and 3. The water from the Somasundrapalya Lake in Sector 2 will no longer be diverted to Sector 2 and 3, as the lake is rejuvenated now, and the water will stay within the water body, avoiding the flooding issues caused last night.
The residents do not believe in these adhoc measures and false promises. Says Bala Padur: “BBMP started the stormwater drain cleaning work yesterday near Gandhi statue on HSR Club road yesterday. Today, nobody came and no work. If it rains, the same sewage problem will persist.”
The residents have a reason to be upset with the officials and elected representatives as repeated complaints have not resulted in a permanent solution to the flooding problem in low-lying areas of Sector 3. “Is BBMP getting our sumps cleaned as we can’t spend Rs 5000 a month everytime it rains,” says Hitu. Or do we stop paying property tax… no lights, no roads, no water, flooding inside houses…. or do we shift to higher areas like ITI Layout, Hosapalya and Somasundrapalya?”
When water entered some houses in Sector 3, elderly citizens were seen trying to remove the water. Says Prahalada TN: “Whenever we ask for help, the BBMP engineers says they have no money. People in power indulge in blame war and citizens suffer. Everybody visits, pays lip sympathy, and gives empty assurances… this is happening for the last ten years! But the situation is aggravating with every rain. It is hell near 17th A Main, 17th B Main and surrounding areas. Until the BBMP clears silt from the drains, the problem will not be resolved. On 15th Main that leads to Mangammanapalya, even a shower of five minutes leads to collection of drainage water on the road.”
‘REVERSE THE WATER FLOW’ Sector 3 resident Ritanshi says 17th A Main was flooded last night within 10 minutes: “Desilting is not going to solve the problem,” she says. “We have to change the direction of the flowing water. Five feet water has entered into the lane and houses. If it rains all night, is the BBMP going to bear the loss of life and property?” Similarly, 17th Main, 22nd A Cross, 18th Main, 18th C Main, 23rd Cross, 16th A Main, and 22nd Cross were all flooded as well. “Water is flowing like a river on 23rd Cross, 16th A Main and entering our houses,” said Aruna. “Repeatedly, we are telling the BWSSB to clean the manholes, but no action. All the manholes are overflowing. Dirty sewage water is entering the sump. We can’t sleep in this situation.”
Desilting and diversion of lake water from Somasundrapalya are the main reasons. Says GN Gopala Mayya: “Most of the shoulder drains (service road of 19th Main) to main drain below the high tension lines are choked or blocked by slum dwellers. A simple maintenance of shoulder drains will go a long way in avoiding flooding of service road.”
Fifty-nine-year-old Nirmala, a resident of Sector 2, has alleged that when her husband Satyameshan retired in 2015, her son Nitin and his wife Keerti took the lumpsum retirement money and promised to look after them. However, the couple allegedly spent all the money and didn’t keep up their promise.
With a monthly pension of Rs 30,000, the couple is not able to pay for the house rent and the medical expenses. When Nirmala asked her son to give their money back or help them in their hour of need, he allegedly pushed her, mouthed expletives and threatened her with life.
Taking cognisance of his actions, Nirmala lodged a complaint with the HSR Layout police on October 21, 2019. She wants the cops to give them protection and also get their money back from their son. The cops have charged the son and daughter-in-law for intentional insult, criminal intimidation, voluntarily causing hurt, and assaulting a woman.
BBMP is ready for the rains with Prahari, their mobile jeep equipped with everything they need to remove uprooted trees, and pump out water.
Prahari is an emergency response vehicle of the BBMP, and there are six at different points in the city, like Bommanahalli and Mahadevapura that receive the most complaints due to rain. From tree-cutters and pickaxes to ladders, electric saws, ropes and pumps, the six Praharis are at your service.
In addition, BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar is particularly cautioning riders. “I request all motorists, especially 2-wheeler riders, to ride carefully,” he has tweeted. “Road rage is no answer to slow traffic movement due to rains. Don’t ride on footpaths.”
Call BBMP Control Room at 080-22221181, 22975595, 22100031 & 22100032 for assistance.
