20-year-old dies after being knocked down by bus

Bellandur residents blame encroachment on footpath

The death of a 20-year-old youth on Sarjapur Main Road has brought the spotlight back on pedestrian safety in Bellandur ward. Residents, who have been fighting a long battle with the civic body for safe pedestrian infrastructure, say they will protest if Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) does not act this time around.

According to the HSR Layout traffic police, the victim, Sunil Biswakarma, worked in the food court inside the Wipro campus. On Tuesday morning, he was hit by a BMTC bus. According to the police, Sunil died on the spot. “It does not seem like he was trying to cross the road,” an official said.

Residents, however, said that Sunil's death was due to the lack of space for pedestrians on the footpath and illegal parking on the road.

“The footpath on Sarjapur Main Road has been encroached upon. There have been at least three deaths in eight months on this stretch, and many more accidents,” said Kishori Mudaliar, member of Bellandur Jothege, a civic group.

Residents’ organisations claim their complaints on the BBMP Sahaaya app have not been acted on. “We invite the BBMP officials to come here and try walking with us,” said Ms. Mudaliar, adding that this is one of the stretches the group had identified for construction of a model footpath.

Members of around 80 RWAs in Bellandur have written to the mayor and demanded that Sarjapur Road, Haralur Road, Bellandur Main Road and Kasavanahalli Road be made into no-vending zones. They also want work on widening the road to be completed at the earliest and have requested the mayor to meet them on Saturday to resolve the problem.

“Bellandur ward is not getting the attention it deserves. We have footpaths, but no access to them. The roads are choked with traffic. Adding to the problem is the ongoing work on widening of Sarjapur Road. Where will pedestrians go?” said Rohin Govindrajan, who lives on Sarjapur Main Road.

Mayor R. Sampath Raj said, “I have instructed officials to inspect the footpath and remove all encroachments. I am ready to meet the residents.”