Already delayed, Bengaluru civic body asks for 6 more months to fix BTM bypass road | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: Dust clouds fill the air, broken roads rattle vehicles, and frustrated pedestrians navigate uneven surfaces. This is the daily reality commuters and pedestrians face on BTM 2nd Stage bypass road, next to BTM Lake in south Bengaluru.The three-kilometre stretch, a crucial link connecting Silk Board junction and Bannerghatta Road, was initially dug up for BWSSB pipeline work. However, BBMP, which was supposed to follow up with white-topping about three months ago, is yet to begin the work. As a result, the road is in sorry state with the surface riddled with potholes and uneven patches.A reality check by TOI revealed concrete dividers placed on footpaths, forcing pedestrians to walk on the already damaged road. Instead of proper asphalting, concrete rocks and mud were dumped into gaps, leaving the stretch uneven and risky. With no proper resurfacing, roads have become slippery and dangerous.Business drop by 40%: Local vendorsLocal vendors along the stretch say business has dropped sharply, with footfall reducing by nearly 40%. Sajid Ullaahan, a 48-year-old owner of an auto consultancy business, shared, “They initially said it would be six months; now again, they are saying another six months. The temporary fix is not doing good. I have seen multiple people skid and fall because of poor roads. Sitting in this dust the whole day, we are developing headaches.“Basha B, who has been running a service centre, said, “The situation has become so bad that most of the time is spent just cleaning the dust off vehicles. Business has dropped by nearly 40%, and while residents welcomed the initiative to improve the road, they are frustrated by the slow pace of work. Every time officials visit the site, they always give vague response with no clear timeline.”Archana (name changed), mother of a class 5 student, said, “I had thought of letting my son walk home with his friends, but looking at the condition of the road, I have no choice but to pick him up myself. It’s scary to even cross the road for a five-minute walk — that’s how bad the situation is. At least they should keep the road and footpaths resident-friendly.”Rajagopalan R, founder and convener of Bengaluru Coalition, said, “BWSSB pays BBMP to asphalt roads after pipeline work, but look at the condition — nothing has been done. Even if the white-topping is delayed, they should at least asphalt the road so people can commute safely. Where has all that money gone?”Deadline missed, admit BBMP officialsA senior official from the major roads engineering department, BBMP, said, “We will complete the work in the next six months. There is a slight delay due to lack of coordination with other civic agencies and as we are doing the work in a phased manner.”
