Traffic, pollution and potholes… the commute on Vasanthnagar I Main Road is fraught with danger for motorists and pedestrians alike. Their problems have been further compounded by the recent rain.
A stroll down the small stretch between Millers Road junction and the railway underpass near Mount Carmel College is enough to ascertain the hopeless shape the road is in. It is not just huge potholes that pose a danger to the motorists; the road surface is worn away in many places. The road earlier had two humungous, unscientifically constructed speed bumps, which were removed. However, the road was not levelled thereafter, making it doubly stressful for motorists.
Causes accidents too
Zubair Ahmed, who owns a car and motorcycle garage on the road, claimed the road’s abysmal condition contributes to accidents. “There are at least two to three minor accidents every week. This is a major link to Millers Road, Cantonment, Palace Road and Cunningham Road. The road sees a lot of traffic due to this. At least for this reason alone, the road should be repaired as soon as possible,” he said.
Frequent accidents, slow movement of vehicles throughout the day and traffic snarls during peak hours are the norm here, said Gopinath, a security guard.
Bemoaning the road’s condition, shopkeepers and restaurant owners said their business suffered as customers found it discouraging. Aftab Basha, owner of Spicy Restaurant, said: “We wanted to have some tables outside, but due to the pollution and lack of parking space, we changed our plans.”
Asked to comment, a Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) official claimed that the work order to repair the road had been issued.
“There has been a delay in taking up the work due to the rain. Work will be taken up within a week, hopefully,” the official said.
