A crumbling park and a congratulatory flex

By Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Residents of Gayathri Nagar and nearby areas a r e r u n n i n g pillar to post to fix the infrastructure-related problems at Gayathri Devi Park in Prakash Nagar ward of Rajajinagar Assembly constituency. For the last three years, they have been trying to convince the authorities concer ned to ensure basic infrastructure at the park, but in vain.

“The park, once a favourite destination for the residents, is no more a preferred place to spend time in the morning and evening. The rain shelter is in a poor condition. No efforts were made to repair the broken roof of the rain shelter. It is not easy for senior citizens even to walk on the pathway of the park,” said SM Gayathri, a resident of Gayathri Nagar.

The residents complain that most of the open air gym equipment is either broken or unfit to use. They have also complained about the lack of security guards at the park. “The open air gym equipment was in a usable condition only for a few months. We have complained to the BBMP authorities as well as elected representatives but nothing has been done till date. Toilets are in a bad condition,” said Gajendran M, a resident.

Expressing a similar opinion, Nanjunda Rao, a resident, said lack of security and defunct CCTV cameras are the matter of concern for senior citizens who visit the park in the morning and evening. “I do not know why the BBMP authorities failed to ensure one or two security guards for this park. I want the authorities concerned to fix the problems as early as possible,” said Nanjunda Rao.

Sham Jujare, a resident, opined that the local constituency MLA and the BBMP Chief Commissioner have to address the park issues on priority basis since majority of the gym equipment and children play amenities of the park are not functioning.

“The BBMP horticulture de par tment authorities have to ensure re gular maintenance of the park. It has been more than two years since these gym equipment are serviced and due to lack of maintenance the toilets in the park are in horrible state and the public are exposed to mosquito bites and thereby becoming vulnerable to diseases,” he said.

It may be noticed that local MLA S Suresh Kumar put up a banner at the entrance of the park more than a month ago, apart from wishing the visitors a Happy Ugadi, to advise them to cooperate with the BBMP authorities as the developmental works, including asphalting the roads, upgrading drains to avoid water stagnation during monsoon, are in progress in the park.

As usual, the banner remained at the entrance and the condition of the open-air gym equipment and the rain shelter remains the same even after one month of the announcement made by the MLA about the developmental works ‘taken up’ under MLA Local Area Development Fund. However, BBMP Executive Engineer (electrical) was not available for comment.