Bad roads, repeated floods show neglect of Bellandur

Sanjay R Murty

Bengaluru

 Bellandur Ward (new number 115) is located in the south-eastern part of Bengaluru and is well known for its large lake. It is part of the BBMP’s Mahadevapura zone and comes under the Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency.

Bellandur village, Kariyammana Agrahara, parts of Devarabeesanahalli, Kadubeesanahalli and Yemalur are localities that form the ward.

The ward’s northern boundary is the HAL Compound Road, which runs along the HAL Airport (Old Airport). A part of this road is in good condition, but has several garbage black spots. The stretch of the same road towards Yemalur is in a bad shape. Huge potholes filled with rainwater and water flowing from the HAL Airport makes it extremely challenging for commuters. As a result, most commuters avoid this stretch of the road.

One can see several tech parks and high-rise apartment complexes while passing along Bellandur’s stretch of the Outer Ring Road. What lurks behind the high rises is a ward that lacks basic amenities – especially good roads. The apathy of the local BBMP officials is evident in the fact that same stretches of roads in the area are inundated every year and after every spell of rains.

 The recent flooding of the Outer Ring Road along Bellandur (near Eco Space Business Park) marred the image of the city by exposing its crumbling infrastructure and sheer lack of planning. A major storm-water drain that shifts water from Bellandur Lake towards Varthur Lake takes a sharp turn near the Outer Ring Road. As a result, the road connecting Bellandur Lake to the Outer Ring Road (behind Passport Seva Kendra) is the first casualty. The same road was flooded exactly a month ago. Nothing seems to have improved during the month that followed, leading to the road staying inundated even a week after heavy rains. Rajesh (name changed), who is a resident of Kempapura near Yemalur, pointed out that the storm-water drain in the ward must be given special attention. “Bellandur Lake is a huge water body into which storm water flows from many areas. A drain that takes water away from such a lake must be free from obstacles,” he said and added that people living around drains must also ensure that no garbage is thrown into them.

Bellandur’s roads are in an extremely pitiable condition. Several roads are such that one cannot even walk, let alone drive a vehicle on them. While this is the condition of roads behind tech parks and along compound walls of gated residential communities, roads in the Bellandur village are no better. They have been dug up for the laying of sewerage lines and not been properly restored.

 A resident of Bellandur 3rd Cross, which is close to the BBMP Executive Engineer’s Office, said that rain aggravated the condition on these roads, making it difficult for residents to use vehicles here. “Adding to this is the menace of construction debris being dumped by irresponsible workers and building owners. Piles of debris attract other waste and soon it becomes a spot for dumping domestic waste as well,” she said.

The Kariyammana Agrahara area also houses a large settlement of migrant labourers. The settlement has seen several disputes in the past due to claims that the settlers are illegal migrants. However, the entire settlement is an unclean area where open defecation and littering are rampant. As the open ground lacks tar roads, water stagnation on roads and areas between rows of sheds is common. It is a breeding ground for diseases and a spot that needs immediate attention from the authorities concerned.