Pipeline Road : Rife with problems

BANGALORE: The locality of Vijayanagar is named after an empire which was known for writing a very substantial and glorious part in Karnataka’s history.So one would expect it to keep up to the high standards set by its name.But it seems like it has no intention of doing so.Pipeline Road is considered to be one of the most important roads in the locality.So when the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) decided to lay rain water drains, everyone welcomed the move.But now people have been made to eat their words as the BBMP has, to no one’s surprise, taken a very unsystematic approach towards their work.The laying accompanies with it huge heaps of mud, jelly and sand.While the people have already been subjected to severe stress with new routes to follow, limited space, potholes on the roads and of course, the long line of vehicles, this seems to be the tip of the iceberg.Pedestrians say that they have no place to walk and have no choice but to walk amidst the traffic to reach their homes.The peril, they say, seems to have been underestimated by the authorities.The sand often overspills onto the road making it risky for the motorists too.Skidding is a common thing and so are minor accidents.Shirley, a motorist on the road, said, “It is so difficult to drive through the stretch with the sand, people walking by, along with mounds and mounds of construction material.You cannot afford to take your eyes off the road even for a split second.” The material, at several places, covers more than half the road.The small width of the road adds to the hassles.Located in close proximity to the Pipeline Road is a temple.An expanse of road, cleared for construction, is now playing home to the all wastes from the temple.Dumped in a heap, not only does the waste block the way but the unbearable stench makes traversing through the area a nightmare for many.Shanta, a visitor of the temple said, “There is nowhere else to dispose the garbage which is why you see so many coconut shells and dried flowers lying unattended to.The BBMP should clean it.” The local corporator H Ravendra, said, “The work will take another 15 days to be completed.So once the work is done, the problems will also lessen.”