Despite cries for pedestrian-friendly roads and city infrastructure, Bengaluru continues to be mismanaged by an apathetic corporation and an even-more disoriented state government, irrespective of which party occupies the highest seat. The latest diatribe against such a bad road infrastructure came from the city’s first Bicycle Mayor Sathya Sankaran. Calling it the ‘city of cars, not people’, Sathya gave the examples of his parents who fell victims to Bengaluru’s appalling road infrastructure only recently.
Tweeting to the city police and BBMP Commissioner, Sathya wrote: “After the bad fall my father had on Sanjaynagar Main Road, it was my mother’s turn near New BEL Road bus stand. (She) Tripped over construction material left all over the place. This is a city for cars not people.”
The twitterrati was quick to react to this latest development by wishing his parents speedy recovery. In addition, they shared their thoughts on the city’s civic woes.
Citizen activist Srinivas Alavilli, the co-founder of Citizens for Bangalore, said, “We have become a city of machines and people have no place left. We shall take it back.”
The proactive Whitefield Rising resident group agreed with Srinivas by stating, “Our streets are strewn with debris, garbage, potholes and missing slabs.”
Vinay Kamble wanted to know if the government can be sued for this terrible incident. If you have the same question, yes, you can, if the injury happened due to a pothole, an open manhole or drain. In a recent case, the Karnataka High Court ordered the BBMP to compensate one such victim.
Vinay Sreenivasa had a similar story to share. “My mum in law also hurt her knee on a badly-laid footpath on Malleswaram 15th Cross. Unless we fix our pavements, we fail all the elderly and differently-abled in our city, and all of ourselves.”
Rajkumar Dugar recommended one measure that could rectify this issue. “This problem will reduce the day we have names of BBMP engineers and contractors displayed at every road with penalty clause for any damage to road. Citizens are made to cough up for the slightest mistake. Why not these people too?
Reacting to the incident, a representative of Save Harlur campaign made a stark statement: “This city is not even made for cars”. Another resident asked chief minister YS Yeddiyurappa to “transfer all inefficient officers”.
Only Balaji had an ironic twist to the controversy by questioning Sathya’s mission of sustainable mobility by saying, “And you have been misleading gullible people to cycle on such dangerous roads.”
Dipika Bajpai, the award-winning and dynamic former Deputy Conservator of Forests in Bangalore, praised a middleman the other day. Actually, it was a boy. She was reacting to an impressive story shared by Bhubaneshwar IPS officer Arun Bothra who summed up the tale by saying, “We are a nation of middlemen.” And Dipika responded with: “What a novel and nobel way of employment.”
Why are these civil servants so impressed with the boy, you ask? According to Bothra, this youngster apparently helped a senior citizen’s legal issue by tweeting about it to the cops. After looking at the grouse on Twitter, Bothra apparently invited the harassed citizen to his office, and resolved the issue. But what surprised him most was the passing remark by the elderly gentleman. “While leaving he told that a young boy in his area tweets for others. Charges Rs. 500/- for every resolved issue,” tweeted Bothra.
Clearly, where there is an opportunity, there is money to be made. The tweet received over 238 comments, was retweeted over 600 times and registered over 2500 likes.
However, Bothra did clarify that only 5-10% of complaints are resolved through Twitter. The rest is through the respective police stations.
Here are some of the best comments on Twitter about this boy’s side venture:
Aishwarya P: On a positive side, we can appreciate the boy for using his skill and time to earn money and also enabling others to solve their issues. After all, what he is rendering is also a service. I believe he is much better than those who depend on parents or govt for money.
Sitanshu Mahapatra: The Boy is the Entrepreneur of the Year👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾
Sandip: Is he mentioned anywhere that he is doing social service? If not, then he is doing nothing wrong. You must have heard the dialogue “if you are good at something never do it for free”.
Arun Chopra: He’s making money out of his education while doing social service, better than selling pakoras.
C J Karira: He saw a business opportunity! Fifty years ago, letter writers sitting outside GPOs did a similar job… only difference is that paper sheet has become smartphone and pen the finger.
Syeda Sabaun Noor: Wow!!! This thing is making us less of a community… Everyone is doing a side business.. sad.
Jay Jagdev: These jobs carry more respectable names like Advisor, Consultants…
TenderSure footpaths in central Bangalore are the toast of the city for their neatly-designed spaces for pedestrians. However, on MG Road, this has helped two-wheeler riders more than the walkers as this video proves. Clearly, where there is a way, there is a vehicle!
The only way to remove illegalities on roads and footpaths is to equip all the high density roads with high-end CCTVs for automatic traffic violations like speeding, footpath riding, overtaking, cutting signals and so on. This will bring order where none exist. Importantly, three such violations should result in automatic cancellation of driving licences for a year. No human involved means no corruption either. Will the central ministry of transport implement this immediately please?
The video above by Anantha Subramanyam says the story of footpath encroachment in just 30 seconds. A must-watch.
The spectre of commercialisation has gripped oversaturated neighbourhoods like Indiranagar, Whitefield, HSR Layout and Koramangala. The other day, a few youngsters supported by adults went from shop to shop on 100 Ft Road in Indiranagar, requesting them to remove ‘fairy lights’ on trees as they are damaging to the trunks as they are nailed into them. Not to mention, the birds who cannot bear a series of bright lights in their habitat.
Organised by youngsters of The Interact Club, the initiative did have its fair share of naysayers who asked the residents to do better things than mess with the shop’s aesthetics. Others said that the respectability of resident associations will lose its sheen if these initiatives were supported by them. Clearly, the reactions appeared to be either unfounded or had some vested interest as the arguments in favour of ‘fairy lights’ lacked substance.
The shopkeepers finally saw reason. Today, the fairy lights opposite Vapour pub and brewery, much to the relief of the residents. Today, the youngsters had also gone on a follow-up round of the shops. The store staffers promised them that they will abide by the law and remove the bright lights shortly.
Sonalee, the person coordinating the initiative for the youngsters confirms that most stores that the students visited last week had switched off their fairy lights since last week. “They have also promised to remove the tree lights in the coming week,” she said.
The stores covered in the follow-up drive included Allen Solly, Simon Carter, Van Huesen, Sony, Bhartiya Jalpan, US Polo, Chai Point, Bohemia, Bumble and O2.
Hundreds of people blocked the footpaths on 12th Main in Indiranagar today. Claiming to be victims of the residents’ crackdown on illegal pubs and restaurants, the protestors carried placards saying they should be given jobs as they are unemployed now. The residents counter it by saying that this is a ridiculous way to brush aside the illegalities and nuisances committed by pubs like Monkey Bar. It’s tantamount to saying that lawless businesses have no jobs for people because the law prohibits them.
The silent standing protest lasted for about an hour after which the crowd dissipated. Holding placards saying, “I want my job”, “Wanted: A job”, “Help! I’ve Lost My Job”, and so on, several observers reported that many restaurants appeared to be supporting this move as there were DJs and servers wearing white and holding flowers. A war of words began on Twitter too where some people asked the Indiranagar resident associations to give jobs to those who have lost employment due to their “mafia attitude”. Blaming proactive residents for shutting down restaurants that “stopped blaring music” after protests, the naysayers are questioning the association to stop their ‘holier than thou’ attitude and be more understanding to business concerns.
Reacting to all the controversy, resident Isabel Paul had this to say: “Unplanned and money-minded commercialization in residential areas impacts everyone eventually, and the govt needs to identify a satisfactory solution in collaboration with all the stakeholders.”
I Change Indiranagar Responds
In a tweet to the authorities, the media and the general public, I Change Indiranagar, the proactive federation of all residents welfare associations in Indiranagar, HAL 2nd and 3rd Stage, came out with its reaction to the snap silent protest conducted this afternoon: 1. We are not against any legally-run establishments – pub, bar, brewery or restaurant. 2. We are only interested in ensuring all establishments are operated based on the legal rules and norms laid down by the government authorities, be it building bye laws, fire safety, pollution control, traffic and law and order police, Excise, BBMP health department, BESCOM and BWSSB rules. 3. The core of this is the safety and well-being of residents, who have to bear sound and smoke pollution from generators and vehicles and roof top establishments blaring music past midnight, which are against Supreme Court established pollution norms. 4. It is also our concern for the safety of the patrons and guests of these establishments, as the owners of these establishments have not taken that into consideration. 5. Parking area in basement is most often misused for commercial purpose and cars parked in front of residents’ gates. 6. Buildings without occupancy certificate cause serious risk to lives of their guests and residents around, especially in case of fire. 7. Many illegal activities such as drugs and prostitution, which are a bane to society, occur in and around these establishments. 8. The security of residents and visitors alike, is seriously being compromised due to the huge influx of people on a given weekend and we as resident’s need our RIGHT TO LIFE restored too. This entire campaign is being made to look like arm-twisting mechanism by the authorities.
EDITORSPEAK
It is clear that the law is violated repeatedly in most cases of commercial enterprises in residential areas. And this is most prominent with pubs, the Monkey Bar being the most recent example as it did not have the mandatory Occupation Certificate, among many more violations. Political connivance, bribery and coercion is evident as many big establishments under the radar were found to be owned by heavyweights in business, politics and entertainment. Clearly, this nexus can only be broken if there is political will. The best example that one BBMP official cited was the removal of flex banners across the city within days after the High Court order. This shows that only the courts can rescue the residents from the commercial ambitions of senseless, greedy and unlawful entrepreneurs. It’s time this commercial breed realises its mistakes and makes amends instead of using youth as pawns in their larger game of commercialising everything in the city and outside. Every trend has its limits, and commercialisation has gone way beyond the saturation point. It’s about time the Supreme Court intervenes and ensures such illegal commercialisation does not happen anywhere in the country.
By law, the residents have every right to oppose any activity if it disturbs them, be it noise, air, or water pollution, or parking congestion and any other inconvenience. In a court of law, such an argument will always win. Therefore, we urge all entrepreneurs to be good Indians and follow the law rather than bribe an official and run their establishments without the relevant permissions. When they go ahead with the violations, and soon, the axe falls on them due to resident activism, they are responsible for rendering their staff without jobs. Not the residents. It’s plain common sense.
#BBMP is keen to save existing trees in #Bengaluru. Formally launched #FreeTheTree initiative in Malleshwaram this morning by removing tree guards hampering growth of trees. In the coming days, such guards will be removed from hundreds of trees across the city. @theuglyindianpic.twitter.com/HTajgCOxTw
It is a travesty of the times. Activists, and non-profit organisations team up with civic agencies to plant saplings and erect tree guards with much fanfare. Later, the sapling grows into a tree, and the metal barricade is still there, stifling its growth. In addition, the trees planted on footpaths touch the live wires above them, posing a danger to everyone around.
Thankfully, the BBMP seems to have realised this as Commissioner BH Anil Kumar, who appears to be making the right noises ever since he took over, began a citywide ‘Free The Tree’ campaign today in Malleswaram. Hundreds of tree guards will go under the cutter in the next few days. However, we urge him to ensure that this is made a mandatory exercise at every ward where one person is only in charge of ensuring that the trees are looked after. Importantly, they should chop the trees that had taken over the footpaths and the roads and also touching the live wires. In addition, a heavy penalty needs to be levied on those who park on footpaths meant for pedestrians. This has become rampant across the city.
Though the formal launch was today, the BBMP’s forest department and citizens, including those going by the monicker The Ugly Indians began the campaign a few days earlier. They freed 17 trees each in Indiranagar and HSR Layout. More will follow like it happened today in Malleswaram.
Resident Uday Chopda has some words of caution and constructive feedback about this issue. “They should not cement the pavement as trees don’t get water, nor does the ground water get re-charged,” he says. “Every tree should have at least one box of 2ft by 2ft for the water to seep in. They should sow saplings at places where trees are cut for development like Indiranagar 100 Ft Road. All shops and houses have either removed the tree in front of the property or they cut; please make it mandatory to grow in such areas.”
Dear BBMP, let #freethetree campaign not remain an adhoc measure, but a consistent effort by you.
The Vasantnagar-headquartered Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) is inviting all Bengalureans to take part in a survey that we would share with city planners on how best to offer first and last mile connectivity to public transport. Will they have to be monorails, a plan mooted earlier? Or mini buses run by BMTC? Or increasing the bike and cycle rentals around bus and train stations? The alternatives are many.
Go ahead, take part in this survey. It will take a few minutes of your time, but by doing this, you will not only be helping yourself but also the future generation. Because what we ideate today gets done much later. The future is now. Take charge of it now. Click this B.PAC survey link and answer the questionnaire.
Remember, B.PAC is a non-governmental organisation patronised by city luminaries like Kiran Mazumdar, Charu Sharma, Prasad Bidapa, Prakash Belawadi, Nisha Millet, Harish Bijoor, RK Misra, and K Jairaj, among others.
It began as a small idea of just a few kids from Defence Colony in Indiranagar going from one store to another and asking the shopkeepers to remove fairy lights as they are harmful to the trees on which they are hung. However, the idea gathered momentum and several other residents joined in on Twitter. With the Twitter handle of @ichangeindiranagar, this evening’s agenda was also posted online yesterday with this message:
Children will be visiting shops on 100 ft rd tmrw at 6 pm, from Caratlane to appeal to remove fairy lights choking the trees, making them susceptible to bacteria and fungus infections. These are illegal as per Karnataka Tree Act 1972
“The agenda is to visit every store on 100 ft road and explain to them why fairy lights are bad and hand over a letter signed by kids, requesting them to remove the lights,” said Sonalee, one of the parents, two days before the November 15 event at 6pm.
However, while many appreciated the gesture, there were naysayers that only made the residents more determined. “If you keep taking offense for everything, then you will lose the support of residents,” tweeted Vimmy Nair. “It’s also not fair to exploit children to push your agenda.”
The members of ‘I Change Indiranagar’, a federation of resident welfare associations in Indiranagar, HAL 2nd and 3rd Stage, pointed out that the kids were members of Interact Club and this was a voluntary exercise: “Interact Club is a community service club in Indiranagar for youth below 18 years. The children have come together to remind adults that we are the custodians of their future and it’s our duty to care for the environment.”
Vimmy had a reply to that as well: “Even I have been part of Interact Club during my school days and we didn’t participate in social activism but devoted our time to environmental cleanup, help the needy and develop a civic sense. Protesting in front of establishments is like firing a gun using the kids as shields.”
The Indiranagar 1st Stage RWA responded by tweeting: “Then you must know the meaning of civic sense, which btw we adults seem to have none of. Thank god for children!”
What was also contradictory to Vimmy’s statement was that this was a ‘save the tree’ initiative of kids. We are not sure how that does not add up to the ‘environmental cleanup’ initiative she mentions in her tweet.
The Indiranagar shops under the radar include Caratlane, Louis Phillipe, Simon Cater, Bologna, Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Sony, Bhartiya Jalpan, The Marina, Stoner Ice cream and La Cave. The kids will lead the shop tour this evening at 6pm while the adults will stay in the background for any logistical help.
“It is no secret that trees are good for us,” says Sonalee. “The trees on 100 feet road are old. They face the stress of traffic, pollution, garbage, bikers on footpaths, cemented footpath. Just like we would do everything possible to care for our grandparents, we feel removing year-long fairy lights is a tiny step we can take to help the trees we have grown up with.”
WHAT’S WRONG WITH FAIRY LIGHTS?
Nails: Damage the protective bark, which allows bacteria and fungus to attack the trees from inside.
Strangle the tree: Most shops keep the lights wrapped around the tree all year long. This is like choking the tree, especially harmful for young trees.
Unnatural light: The light messes up the trees, the flowering cycle, the birds. Some may argue that trees on 100 feet road are already impacted due to ambient light. While that is correct, the fairy lights are much more concentrated and closer to the tree.
The other day, prominent civic actists debated over a newspaper report about BBMP’s new proposal to allow local provision stores, milk booths, and bakeries to come up on residential roads. While some don’t agree with the idea altogether, others mentioned that such stores already exist in many parts of Bangalore, and this move will only regularise them. Others debated that the BBMP’s move to expand its tax base by regularising an illegality was tantamount to awarding the guilty rather than penalising them. A few others felt that the BBMP proposes many things, but implements nothing on ground, so what use is another proposal anyway? One person summed it up well by saying, it’s another ‘akrama sakrama all over again’. Akrama Sakrama was a move by the state government several years ago to regularise building violations across the state. But the proposal could not be enforced as the residents went to court against the move as it favoured big builders more than the small land and house owners. In addition, it would lead to more haphazard development of the city, which has already gone from bad to worse.
Ancillary services
In the existing 2015 masterplan that is in use today, there is already a provision for ‘ancillary use’ for provision stores and such small entities on roads above 40 feet width. “They are permitted for up to 50 sq. metres,” says Nitin Seshadri. But now, the BBMP wants to allow them on roads that are 40 ft. and less. “This has already happened on ground, so why the formal statement now?” asks Pushpa S. Another resident activist disagrees with the BBMP’s move by saying, “The logic is ridiculous. Something illegal exists, the BBMP is losing revenue, therefore they want to make it legal! It emphasises the point that the law-abiding citizen is a fool to be so. Break any rule, wait long enough and it will be regularised with a paltry penalty.”
Realistic requirements, anyone?
If you ask any average resident who has no clue about the law, they will get back to you and say, but we need these shops, as they are close to where we stay. Agrees Vijayan Menon: “From a holistic point of view, residents need the kiranas… maybe not the eateries. Most of them don’t have trade licence, so there are two options: regularise and take the trade licence fees for kiranas which came up before January 2012. The commercial tax licence can be used to find the dates. the second option is to work the masterplan to designate areas and roads for local markets, like the commercial axis concept.” Meera K agrees to this by saying, “Kirana stores are important; many apartments have small shops too.”
However, Pramod Kapur disagrees by saying that there is a reason why the current law holds its value. “Not having any commercial activity on roads of 40-feet and less has some logic,” he says. “Congestion resulting from two-wheelers and possibly the odd four-wheelers belonging to owners and more customers will create huge problems. People must be encouraged to walk a bit longer if necessary. Convenience to some can become a nuisance for everyone in the future.”
New proposal or law, BBMP should not be taken seriously, say some residents. “The problem is that we have no faith that the BBMP will implement whatever they say,” said one resident. “Agreeing to anything is pointless.” Kapur agrees: “The only solution is to maintain the status quo. No exceptions because then, one gets into debates. One simple single rule and that’s it.”
However, what about shops that don’t have a trade licence even though they came up before 2012? “If we close them, it will hit the functioning of a residential layout,” says Menon. Swarna V says, “Small shops had designated spaces even before 2012 in BDA layouts under shop sites. They didn’t adhere to that then and now that’s what has become this colossal cancerous monster.” Indira adds to this, by saying, “Not to mention, the umpteen eateries that have come up creating havoc and much garbage.”
The problem is also about how these initial small shops grew into larger entities. “Any shop starts small, but they aim to grow big,” says Mina Prabhu. “And as they grow bigger, they just expand the space they are in, because they believe it is lucky for them. They rarely want to move out.”
Agrees Neeraja Shetty: “Nowadays, everyone wants to expand beyond capacity. So a kirana shop starts selling bakery items, sets up a chips counter with a stove on the footpath, and so on. These kind of adhoc food services are really causing major issues.”
The argument continues. To amend or not to amend the zoning regulations is the question. However, Seshadri has an important fact to share about the importance of a sustainable master plan for the city. “The majority in this city couldn’t care less about commercialisation,” he says. “They don’t want to stop at a traffic light. It’s okay for them to go the wrong way on a one-way street. It’s the minority, people like us, who are paying all the taxes and running the country anyway. The majority only matters during elections. We need to focus on sensible policies and not check what the majority feels about each issue. The government is supposed to look at implementing progressive policies that help the long-term growth of the country in every way. What the majority feels about each issue is totally irrelevant.”
However, the implementation will “touch’ the majority, says Mina Prabhu. “And in a situation of elections every year, no party wants to risk implementing any policy that can damage their potential votes.” Menon had the last word on this issue: “It’s a bunkum proposal anyway. It is proposed by people who have no jurisdiction on the matter, not even UDD (Urban Development Department). They can only do this with the next Master Plan… which is also out of their hands.”
What do you think, dear reader? Let us know by WhatsApp at: +919880585748.
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:
