Bangalore:
Indiranagar has trendy showrooms, lavish lounges and food outlets to satisfy every palette. This is not enough, say residents. What about citizens' basic needs like well-laid sidewalks, they ask.
The footpath on the right side of the road after Domlur flyover towards CMH Road exposes the negligence of civic authorities. From 18th Main to 13th Main, the sandy path is broken at regular intervals. At some places, the path is absent. Pedestrians who long for a walk are forced to step on to the busy road as vehicles of shoppers are parked on the sidewalk blocking their way.
For a leisurely walk, they have to cross to the left side of the road. "Usually, I use the footpath on the left side which is in a better condition. And I cross the road at 12th Main junction to get to my place of work," says Harini, employee of a showroom on 100 ft Indiranagar Main Road.
Subhendu Chakraborty, a resident of Murugeshpalya who travels by bus through the stretch and gets down near the broken footpath, says he comes here to buy food or other household articles at least thrice a week.
"Many a time, I sprained my ankle thanks to the uneven footpath. Since cars are parked haphazardly there, we can't walk continuously. Often we are forced to walk dangerously on the roads. What's the use of a footpath then," asks Chakroborty.
"I shifted my residence to Indiranagar as it was one of the most sought after localities. Coming to roads, indeed they are quite broad. But the footpath on one side of it serves no purpose. Often when I try to get into a bus, I stumble, due to the uneven nature of the path," says Anuprita Bhattacharya, a resident of Indiranagar.
Residents want the civic authorities to reconstruct the sidewalk. No one considers this as a footpath as the sandy stretch serves more as a parking lot.
Stumps of chopped down trees dotting the path constitute another stumbling block for pedestrians. They are dangerous because they can be tripped over in the dark.
"Elders cannot spot them at night. Many have tripped over the stumps and injured themselves. We are wondering who should be re-constructing this footpath. Is it the responsibility of the commercial outlets or that of the BBMP or the local residents' welfare associations," asks Jackeline Hu, a resident of Indiranagar 100 Feet Road.
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