Gap in stormwater drain in Bengaluru’s Chikkalasandra sparks safety outcry | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: A hazardous stretch along a major stormwater drain on Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road in Chikkalasandra poses risks for both motorists and pedestrians. Residents claim their repeated requests for a barricade have gone unanswered by Bengaluru West city corporation.The retaining wall of the stormwater drain, located a few metres from Ittamadu bus stand, ends abruptly, with a fence continuing from that point. A gate was installed in the fence to facilitate desilting, but one gate is missing and the surface below it has begun to cave into the drain. This has created a dangerous situation for road users.
Zahid, a resident, highlighted the issue in a post on X, reminding local authorities of a complaint raised and acknowledged in early Nov. He wrote, “If an open drain has no barrier and someone falls or gets injured, who will be responsible? It’s been days since I registered the complaint, but no action has been taken. I just visited the site; the situation is the same.”Chikkalasandra residents told TOI the authorities have not been responsive to their grievances. Janardhan Reddy, a resident, said they requested the contractor responsible for resurfacing the road six months ago to address the opening as well, but to no avail. “The opening was meant to provide access for an excavator to desilt the drain. However, neither desilting nor proper closure of the opening has happened,” Reddy added.Manjunath A, who works at a garage nearby, said at least two locals have been injured due to the unsafe opening. “One person suffered a fractured hand and is currently recovering,” he said, expressing concern that the situation could turn fatal during rainy weather.A short distance away, a waste transfer spot has turned into a major problem area, with several stray dogs and cows blocking the road, creating an unpleasant environment where passersby also urinate.Manjunath, Bengaluru West city corporation’s assistant executive engineer (Padmanabhanagar), explained that the gap was created by the stormwater drain department for maintenance purposes. “Since the formation of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), we are unsure how responsibilities have been divided, and there is no clarity regarding annual maintenance contracts for drains,” he said.Manjunath denied having received any complaints or notifications from GBA’s complaint-redressal system. He noted that newly formed wards have contributed to confusion regarding boundaries, but assured that a spot inspection will be conducted soon to install a temporary barricade.
