The plight of pedestrians in Bangalore seems to have worsened. It is common knowledge that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) pedestrian underpasses in the city are not maintained properly.
For over a week, people using the pedestrian underpass on Nrupatunga Road, opposite the Department of Excise, were put to hardship, as the plaster from the ceiling had fallen on the path. People were seen carefully treading over bits of plaster that were strewn around. Though the incident occurred over a week ago, the BBMP officials got wind of it only on Saturday.
Lacking facilities
Ramachandrappa, former Mayor, said that the BBMP has the responsibility of maintaining the underpasses, besides providing security to the pedestrians. “All the underpasses have become havens for antisocial elements. At the underpass near Basaveshwara Circle, there are neither lights nor security. These underpasses have probably not even been cleaned since they were inaugurated. It is just funds going down the drain,” he said.
Speaking to The Hindu, a senior BBMP official said that the ceiling plaster had fallen after miscreants attempted to steal the tube lights and wires. “This is nothing but an act of vandalism. It is not an engineering defect,” the official said.
Security
The official also said that the BBMP had lodged a police complaint in this regard with the jurisdictional police station. Asked about the lack of security at these underpasses, the official said that the civic authority does not have the requisite manpower to provide security at all the underpasses. “These are built for the people. People must realise that. They should not resort to such vandalism,” he said.
The official added that the civic authority was thinking of handing over the responsibility of maintenance and providing security at the underpasses to the local ward offices. “The BBMP may soon issue an order to this effect,” the official added.
