Shut shop on Commercial Street, BBMP

By Y. Maheshwara Reddy and Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: When B.S. Yediyurappa  visited Commercial  Street in July, back  when he was still  Chief Minister, he promised the  paving work, which had resulted in  extensive waterlogging, would be  finished in a month. Eight weeks  later, Commercial Street is still a  mess. The project was delayed even  more when Revenue Minister R  Ashoka directed the contractor to  replace the pavers on footpaths and  the carriage-way as he received  many complaints regarding their  quality.

It has been a much-hyped project, involving the city’s busiest  shopping hub, with talk of banning  vehicles on weekends and opening  the street up entirely to pedestrian  traffic. As urban planners turn  their focus into what makes cities  live-able, the BBMP also began to  take its cue from this approach.  The paved path that will replace  the old tar road on Commercial  Street and the patterned cobblestones on Church Street seemed  a definite step in this direction.  However, old habits die hard and  the project, despite taking shape  on one of the city’s most crucial  streets, has been plagued by so  many delays that it’s eight months  past the original deadline and  still not done.

The shopkeepers and other  establishments on Commercial  Street, seeing the boost that it  would give their business, were  only too happy to see the change.  Shop owners have faced a double  whammy, first with the lockdown  and now, this. The pathetic condition of the road, which is already  in one of the city’s busiest areas,  has been a major reason in keeping shoppers away. The lack of  business, along with high rentals, has prompted many owners to  shut their business completely.

Vijay Chandar, grandson of SK  Shama Rao, who started the line  of tailor shops on the stretch during the 1930s, told News Trail, “The  business has been heavily affected  after the pandemic. While the  newly opened malls and stores are  picking up business, we are still  struggling to see an improvement.” According to reports, the development of Commercial Street began in March 2020 and was expected to be done by December 2020.  It has been delayed by over eight  months. Things only got worse in  July, perhaps prompting the CMvisit, when the road became waterlogged after heavy rain.

We appreciate the infrastructure  work, but the fact that it’s moving at  snail’s pace is a matter of concern.  The shoppers find it difficult to  walk on this street during the rains  as the entire stretch has been dug  up for drain works,” Vijay added. However, traders on Commercial  Street are relieved that the roads  are functional, as work has been  going on for over a year. However,  issues persist, including open pipes  which often overflow, sending water  right into the shops.

If all goes well, the re-laying of  pavers on the footpaths and the carriageway is expected to be completed in 14 days. Clarifying the issue  of waterlogging during the rains  and displaced pavements, a Bruhat  Bengaluru Mahanagara  Palike (BBMP) official  said that the work on  the project will complete within 15 days. He  told News Trail that the  work is delayed due to  the monsoon.

“We removed the pavers from the footpaths  two days ago. We will  complete it by Tuesday.  We will take up removing the pavers on the  carriage way soon and  complete the work in  14 days,’’ said Anand  Pramod, the contractor  assigned by Bengaluru  Smart City Limited.

Bengaluru Smart City  Limited Managing Director Rajendra Cholan  had said that laying  pavers on the footpaths  would be completed in  three days and relaying  of pavers on the 530-meter carriageway would  be taken up in two phases to avoid inconvenience to the shoppers as  well as businessmen.

The official also said  that the work would  be carried in a phased  manner to avoid affecting the business and  traffic flow in the area.