On the morning of October 19, at around 6.15am, 47-year-old Muniyallappa was riding his two wheeler on Bellandur Service Road from the Cafe Coffee Day end towards Bellandur.
When he approached Bhagini restaurant, 26-year-old Siddeshwar, a cab driver, allegedly driving rashly hit him so hard that the victim fell on the road along with his bike. He had injuries on his leg and back. Interestingly, the cab driver himself called for an autorickshaw and took him to the nearby Sakra Hospital for treatment.
This is the second instance where the culprit has also played a good samaritan by attending to the victim immediately in the last two weeks. It also makes sense because if not treated immediately, the patient could die and the culprit could be behind bars for a longer time. However, a case is registered against the cab driver for rash driving and causing agony to the victim.
Renjith M Das had parked his car on 19th Main in front of Rashtrakutas restaurant in Sector 4. He had left a fitness bag (with nothing inside), but three thieves thought there was a laptop inside it, and plan this robbery in five minutes during daytime while people are moving around. The video is now with the HSR police, but no news on their whereabouts yet.
Though the incident happened more than a year ago, and the video had gone viral then, Renjith shared this video today again to warn people about not keeping expensive things inside cars. With HSR having a considerable floating population, these video reminders are the need of the hour. Just CLICK HERE to watch the video that has already recorded over 45,380 views so far and counting.
HSR Layout residents are heaping ignominy over the Bangalore Electric Supply Company (BESCOM) for switching off power at will. Even when it does not rain, even during the winter, there are frequent power cuts, sometimes lasting for over six hours. And this has not gone down well with the residents.
Bescom officials contend that these could be for a range of reasons. From feeder relay issues to new power lines being laid for commercial entities to technical issues. Their justification is one of comparison. “Koramangala is worse, HSR is so much better,” said one official.
However, the residents could not keep their complaints to themselves and have taken to Twitter to vent their angst. Four hours ago, TheRJ tweeted to Bescom that there was no power in CPWD Quarters on 27th Main in Sector 1. At the same time, Naresh Parasaram tweeted, “Medical emergency. Patient is on oxygen respirator. Requesting power immediately in 1st sector.”
Munsi Mustaque was more livid: “First, be a stable power supply organization and then talk about being the best. BESCOM really sucks in providing power supply in HSR layout. My remote village has much better power supply than in Bangalore by BESCOM. At least, be like BEST or TATA power supply in Mumbai.” In another tweet, he says, “Dear BESCOM, why are there so many frequent power cuts in Sector 4 area? Day or night, there are power cuts all the time. Why are you not able to provide stable power supply?In the last one month, we have seen power cuts every day. Why such a horrible service?”
Aditya Khandelwal has tweeted that there is no electricity in Garden Layout, Sector 2 for over two hours, and he has tweeted to the Chief Minister himself. The tweets continue. Will Bescom better its act or continue to come up with excuses remains to be seen.
The residents of Sector 6 and Sector 7 are complaining that food carts and paan shops are popping up like mushrooms on 5th Main in Sector 6 and Sector 7. For lack of a proper food street, this is the problem that HSR is suffering for a long time.
To precisely resolve this issue, many places were suggested by the resident welfare associations. Finally, 18th Cross in Sector 3 was identified and licences issued. However, it is largely unregulated as newer, unlicenced vendors come on board and cause nuisance in the area, like disposing off waste into the stormwater drains, selling cigarettes and so on.
Brigadier RS Murthy (retd), the former president of Sector 2 Residents Welfare Association had suggested a long time ago that the long stretch of road behind the BESCOM office in Sector 2 could be made a food street, but the authorities did not do anything about it. We also feel that this road is perfect as the entire length of the road just has the Bescom compound on one side. Another option that residents give is the Singapore model of closing certain stretches of the street at night just for vendors. Some streets that could be considered would be 19th Main Service Road, 18th Cross, and 9th main (between Sobha Supermarket and 17th Cross junction).
This road behind Bescom building in Sector 2 is perfect for a food street
This road behind Bescom building in Sector 2 is perfect for a food street
The prevailing situation
“The vendors are becoming a nuisance for residents and the general public,” says Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Sector 6 resident. “On 5th Main, the taxis and autos park their vehicles, clogging the busy road. They throw the leftover food waste in the storm water drains, including banana leaves and paper cups. It’s a nuisance for people walking on the street, especially for women and children. The footpath is encroached by these carts and people are forced to walk on the road itself.”
The cart owners are not the issue, but contribute to the issue as they are responsible for the swelling crowd that overtakes a portion of the footpath and road. The situation on 5th Main is worse because of heavy vehicle traffic movement during peak hours. “It’s horrible to see women walking in the evening trying to dodge these places by criss crossing the road and avoid the crowd.”
Erecting barricades to prevent trucks is no remedy because constructions require trucks to enter at night. Any out of the box solution to this? “We can identify certain roads where we can close the road for traffic in the evening and convert it in to food street everyday, say after 6pm. I had seen this in Singapore. During the day it’s a busy road and after 7pm the road is closed for traffic and used for food carts. We will have to choose a road that doesn’t have any houses. The only one I can think off is 9th main, between Sobha supermarket and 17th Cross junction. The good part about the one in Singapore is that the vendors would take out all the trash and their carts after they close. It felt as though nothing happened the evening before. Here, our vendors will start parking their carts on the footpaths. This will be very chaotic very soon.”
Another option is to use the space beside White Houzz next to BDA Complex. What do you think, dear readers. Your out of the box solutions are also welcome. We will compile all the solutions you suggest and send it to the relevant for possible action. It might take a while to resolve this long-pending issue, but we will stay the course until it’s done and keep doing follow-up stories. We will also urge the Federation of HSR Residents Welfare Association to drive this initiative.
Renjith M Das had parked his car on 19th Main in front of Rashtrakutas restaurant in Sector 4. He had left a fitness bag (with nothing inside), but three thieves thought there was a laptop inside it, and plan this robbery in five minutes during daytime while people are moving around. The video is now with the HSR police, but no news on their whereabouts yet.
Though the incident happened more than a year ago, and the video had gone viral then, Renjith shared this video today again to warn people about not keeping expensive things inside cars. With HSR having a considerable floating population, these video reminders are the need of the hour. Just CLICK HERE to watch the video that has already recorded over 45,380 views so far and counting.
The other day when it was their area police inspector Rajesh’s wedding anniversary, the residents of Teacher’s Colony planted a sapling in his house. It does not just end there.
The group of over 175 members have bought 60 more saplings and are offering their services to plant a sapling on your auspicious day.
“Please give us your birthdate or anniversary, suggest a place in Teacher’s Colony, and we will plant the sapling,” says Mohan Govindiah, secretary, Namma Teacher’s Colony Residents Welfare Association. He can be reached at 77608-52892.
Right to left: Police inspector Rajesh with his wife and son
70 Mahagani saplings ready to be planted in your house or surroundings
An active bunch of residents headed by Sunder in HSR Layout Sector 2 have prevented two garbage dumping incidents on the banks of Somasundrapalya Lake.
The slippers and other garbage was dumped on the footpath in day time
The kitchen waste by an eatery was prevented from being dumped near the lake at night
When residents saw a small van pull up near the stretch close to the lake and dump slippers in the open land next to Isha Lakefront apartment, they immediately rushed to the vehicle drivers and forced them to take it all back.
Similarly, some people from an roadside eatery came to throw the kitchen waste in the open land, and were prevented in just the same manner.
Another way of catching the culprits is to install CCTV cameras along the stretch and even if the culprits are not caught in the act, they can be convicted later by the BBMP and the cops for causing nuisance. It’s humanly impossible to stay on guard all the time. If the cameras are able to catch the offender’s name and vehicle numbers, much more can be done in a streamlined manner.
Fed up with apathy from politicians, bureaucrats and other government officials, a group of residents have begun fixing the potholes on the Kasavanahalli Main Road. And while doing so, they have also tweeted to Prime Minister N Modi, BJP National President Amit Shah, BBMP Mayor, and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwar who is also the Bangalore Development Minister. There have been over 88 retweets of this and general outrage by the residents.
Tweeted Sudarshan: “Self Help is the only option. BBMP and BWSSB don’t act unless directed by Court or its a Natural Calamity.” Added Abhijeet Kumar Sinha: “The authorities (BBMP Mayor, BBMP Commissioner, Deputy CM, Mahadevapura MLA Arvind Limbavali, CM) have mastered the art of ‘Apathy’. The budget allocated for road repairs goes into the pockets of individuals. Bangalore is proud to have roads like that of the poorest countries of Africa.”
Ankita Goyal echoed their sentiments and said this categorically: When thick skinned authorities refuse to work, citizens have to do it themselves.”
One of the residents behind this self-help gesture Gopinath K said: “With our multiple follow-ups, they just dumped the concrete and stone powder, not sure how many more follow ups are required to lay the proper roads.”
The residents have had enough and are continuing to highlight the plight of their civic infrastructure. They have chalked up ‘Bellandur Ulisi’, a series of ‘Save Bellandur’ events from October 21 leading up to the grand climax on October 27. They are conducting a painting competition for kids to come up with solutions to their problems on October 21 from 10am to 1pm. On the same day, from 3pm onwards, they plan a bike rally around their neighbourhood. And on october 27, they plan to form a human chain along this map to highlight the many issues they are facing today.
In a terse message to the authorities, their first in the series is a painting contest for kids under 15 years with the theme of ‘Mobility, pedestrian safety and cleanliness’. By saying, ‘Who will save Bellandur? Spiderman, Superman or BBMPman?’ their flier is asking the kids to use their imagination (and the imagination of their parents) and paint between 10am to 1pm.
On October 21 itself, between 3pm and 6pm, they also play to hold a bike rally along three routes as follows:
ROUTE 1: DODDAKANNELI-KADUBEESANAHALLI-CARMELARAM
ROUTE 2: HOSUR-KASAVANAHALLI-SARJAPUR ROAD-HA
RALUR ROAD
ROUTE 3: IBLUR-BELLANDUR-KARIAMMAAGRAHARA-
YEMLUR
October 27 – FINAL DAY
From 10am, they intend to form a human chain along this map. later, they plan to hold a press conference and give a media briefing. “We want to get actions on demands before we move out by the end of the day,” says their press statement.
RESIDENTS CAN PITCH IN WITH MONETARY HELP!
To manage the expenses for Oct 27, the residents are seeking generous voluntary contributions. “We estimate about minimum Rs 200 per contribution would help the cause,” they say.
You can transfer the money to:
ACCOUNT NAME: KASAVANAHALLI DEVELOPMENT FORUM
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1713014889
IFSC CODE: KKBK0008107
Bank: Kotak Mahindra Bank
Branch: SARJAPURA MAIN ROAD BRANCH
After the money transfer, they are requesting you to send your name, transaction reference number and amount transferred details to kasavanahallidevforum@gmail.com or whatsapp to 9886022760.
BAD TO WORSE STATE OF AFFAIRS
Not only are some residents taking pictures, they are questioning everybody for the civic chaos. Tweets Gopinath K: “#bwssb #bbmb #BDA horrible roads, worst than remote villages, how many days will you show us this torture? Please don’t harass tax payers with these horrible roads. Please pave roads where commuters can commute.”
Even worse indictment is from the @savebellandur handle: “Every small shower, it gets worse in #Bellandur. @bjparvind, ur vision of International Stadium is ready. Residents swim, long jump & dirtbike to move around.”
Such is the apathy by the authorities that the residents have started a Telegram broadcast channel to relay all the news in their neighbourhood in addition to tweeting about their problems to the authorities and the media. In one such tweet from @savebellandur, they say: “Hon reps @bjparvind @PCMohanMP pls do anything! Haralur, Kasavanahalli, Kadubeesanahalli, Doddakanneli, Yemlur & #110Villages in same state. Why should we suffer 4 #BBMP’s #Incompetence? Let them deposit tax money to #Bellandur escrow accoubtm we will self manage.”
Thirumalesha Krishnappa, the principal of SVR PU College in Samasandrapalya, Sector 2, HSR Layout, is capturing the faces of eve teasers outside his school and regularly tweeting to the city police, Deputy CM and CM. Here is one such instance captured on October 9 at 4pm.
“Eve teasing is a great threat to the student community in Somasundrapalya and HSR Layout schools and colleges,” he tweets. “We request Hoysala to do rounds around 4 pm near all the schools in these areas.”
Speaking to Residents Watch, Krishnappa said, “The cops promised that they would patrol the area. In any case, whenever I see any suspicious activity, I take photos with the vehicle number and upload them on Twitter. These are traders in the area who are indulging in eve teasing. It happens once or twice a week.”
Situated bang in the middle of HSR Layout, in Sector 3, near McDonald’s junction, the 9-acre Swabhimaana Tree Park is the most beautiful lung space in HSR Layout.
Just take a few minutes off your busy schedule, relax and prop your phone on a stand and keep watching. We have spent a good amount of time in catpturing the many facets of the park in this 20-minute video.
And yes, don’t forget to step inside the actual park whenever you are free. It’s open before 9.30am and after 4.30pm.
