A glimpse into streets of Ramaswamy aPalya, where progress has led to problems

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Ramaswamy Palya, in the east of Beng aluru, which falls under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ward number 62 shows the busy life and city problems. With over 50,000 people, it’s a mix of homes and businesses.

The area boasts good connectivity, facilitated by a network of roads and public transportation systems.

The area also has a mix of educational institutions, healthcare facilities and commercial establishments and has seen rapid urbanisation in the past few years.

However, beneath the veneer of progress, Ramaswamy Palya grapples with many issues.

Foremost among these challenges is the perennial problem of waste management. While certain residential pockets maintain cleanliness diligently, commercial areas often bear the brunt of neglect, with unsightly garbage heaps becoming commonplace.

One resident said, “Business owners often do not care about where they throw their garbage. They just toss it on the road and this attitude sets a bad example for others. Soon, the spot becomes a dumping ground for everyone. People passing by also start throwing their trash there since it looks like an accepted place for garbage.”

Stray cattle looms large over the streets of Ramaswamy Palya, posing risks to both commuters and pedestrians alike.

Roaming freely, these animals scavenge amidst garbage piles, further exacerbating sanitation concerns.

Moreover, the presence of a railway track, nestled under the MS Nagar flyover, creates a unique hazard.

The lack of streetlights within the tunnel, coupled with the wandering cattle, not only engenders traffic snarls but also jeopardises the safety of the animals as well as motorists.

A motorist alleged, “Cows and other cattle in the area can surprise drivers by suddenly running or jumping onto the road. This can make driving tricky and cause accidents.”

Compounding these woes are the dilapidated stormwater drains, destroyed by neglect and choked with plastic debris.

While their impact remains subdued during the summer, the onset of monsoons will rain chaos. Clogged drains transform thoroughfares into veritable waterways, as rainwater intermingles with sewage, inundating roads and exacerbating the menace of refuse.

One frustrated resident lamented, “It is like living on the edge of a disaster waiting to happen. The drains have been neglected for far too long despite the city having no raisin for over 100 days and the BBMP took no action.”

At Ramaswamy Palya, on-road parking creates chaos and inconvenience. Vehicles clutter streets, obstructing traffic flow and pedestrian pathways.

This haphazard parking, especially in commercial zones leads to frustration among residents and commuters, exacerbating safety concerns.

One passer by lamented the situation and said, “Footpaths are encroached by shops and half the road is street vendors, if I walk in the middle of the street, someone will honk from behind and scold me, the only way to pass by the road is to fly over all these things.”

Near the train tracks and trash areas in Ramaswamy Palaya, public urination has become a pervasive issue.

Despite being unsanitary, individuals continue to relieve themselves in public spaces, contributing to unpleasant odours and unhygienic conditions.

This poses health risks to the community. A college student who walks by one of the areas said, “It is so frustrating to walk by this particular spot and whenever I turn someone is urinating on a corner and the stench is unbearable.”

Potholes at Ramaswamy Palaya plague the roads, posing significant challenges to commuters and motorists alike. These road imperfections not only disrupt smooth travel but also increase the risk of accidents and vehicle damage.

Residents endure the frustration of navigating around these hazards daily, while drivers face heightened stress and potential financial burdens from repairs.

A cab driver shared, “Potholes worsen during rainy seasons, exacerbating conditions as waterlogging will make all these areas a blindspot for accidents.”